Craig Goodwin – Jumping Off the Diving Board – The Olympics and Beyond

Craig Goodwin is an Olympic diver and the author of _An Underwater Education_.

I was 8 years old when I first stepped onto a diving board. I was at a summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the diving platform was 10 feet high. I was terrified. I couldn’t believe anyone would jump off something so high.

But I did it. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and jumped. And it was amazing!

I loved the feeling of flying through the air and then hitting the water. It was like I was flying. And when I came back up to the surface, I felt like I could do anything.

I started diving more and more. By the time I was 15, I was competing in national competitions. And in 2004, I made it to the Olympics.

The Olympics were an incredible experience. It was amazing to compete against the best divers in the world. And it was an honor to represent my country.

I didn’t win a medal in the Olympics, but I came close. I finished 9th in the 3-meter springboard. But I was happy with my performance. I had given it my all.

After the Olympics, I continued to dive. I competed in two more World Championships and two more Olympic Games. I never won a medal, but I always came close.

I retired from diving in 2016. But I still love the sport. I now coach young divers and help them to achieve their dreams.

Diving has been a huge part of my life. It has taught me about teamwork, perseverance, and never giving up. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had through diving, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Here are a few things I have learned from diving:

Believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. So never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard they seem.
Work hard. There is no substitute for hard work. If you want to achieve your goals, you have to be willing to put in the hard work.
Never give up. No matter how many times you fail, never give up on your dreams. If you keep trying, you will eventually achieve your goals.
Have fun. Life is too short to not have fun. So enjoy the journey, even when it gets tough.

If you are thinking about taking up diving, I highly recommend it. It is a great way to get in shape, have fun, and make new friends. And who knows, you might even make it to the Olympics someday!