KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Tuesday, men and women athletes competed in the 10-meter and 3-meter synchronized diving as part of the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials.
The stakes are high for these athletes as they're the best in the country and only one pair from each category can go to the Olympics.
Michelle Sandelin, an Olympic diver who competed in the Syndey Summer Olympics in 2000, said it's an experience even being at the trials.
"I'm coaching a diver in the women's 10-meter synchro event," Sandelin said. "I started diving when I was seven years old in South Carolina, I would actually take trips here to Tennessee to train."
Sandelin made it on the Olympic team in 2000. She is now guiding a young athlete on how to get there. She said the feeling was a once in a lifetime.
It's now imprinted in history that Sandelin reached the top two in the country.
"Oh, wow it's indescribable," she said. "I was on cloud nine, it was amazing."
It takes a lot to get to the Olympics but Sandelin said it's all worth it. She described the journey as something that's coming out of love for the sport.
"Kaylee Bishop, she's 17, she's one of the youngest athletes here," Sandelin said. "The girl that I coach, she doesn't go to traditional school. Know their story or not, you feel all the emotions cause you know how much they've sacrificed and put in."
Sandelin is proud of her legacy and hopes for Bishop and younger athletes to find the joy and the positive in every event.
Tuesday night, during the finals, Sandelin will find out whether her athlete will go to Paris, France.
Regardless of what happens, her advice is to live the diving trials to the fullest.
"I didn't get top three, but it was a wonderful experience," she said. "Live in the moment be very present... take one dive at a time."
You can read more about Michelle and Kaylee's journey on WPTV's website at this link.
