KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time, Knoxville is set to host the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials, and Lady Vol junior Maddie Reese has a shot to earn a spot on Team USA for the 2024 summer games.
"All these faces that I've grown up in awe of, and now that I'm competing against them, I feel nervous, but I'm super grateful for the experience," said Reese.
Reese is the only UT diver, male or female, to compete in the trials. Although the task is thrilling, it is also a lot of pressure to dive off a 32-foot platform.
"I'm definitely an overthinker," said Reese. "I go to sports physiology, which has taught me to breathe myself through a dive without thinking about it too much."
She is set to compete in five dives from the 10-meter tower, but one has given her more mental trouble than the others. For two years it took about a minute and a half to get off the platform and perform a gainer. Reese said it caused a lot of, "tears and anxiety," so Tennessee diving head coach, Dave Parrington, came up with an idea.
"I wonder if she just takes one step and stops briefly at the end," said Parrington. "We did that, and it just really helped her rhythm, and we've been doing it since."
Reese said with this method she can think about the dive in a different way, with the step coming first and being the easiest part.
"My gainer two and a half, I now take one step before I go, and finally, it worked. I think it's because I could prepare myself before I took the step," said Reese.
With a clear mind, she can compete more freely and enjoy the experience of competing at the Olympic Trials. Her coach is happy for her too.
"She really wanted to resolve the situation she was finding herself in, so she went all in and got it down, and there's no doubt it's helping," said Parrington.
With a shot at the summer games just one step away, Reese finds more joy in the pressure of diving every day.
"I don't think I would be putting myself in positions daily to be so afraid, but I'm grateful I have this. it's constantly pushing my boundaries," said Reese.
