What do you need to do to be considered a member of the “USA Diving National Team?” Simply stated; get chosen to compete in an international competition. So what you have below are those elite divers in the U.S. who have been chosen for, and are currently on the national team.
This list changes from year to year as divers are added, or subtracted, and by no means is this exclusionary – there are many other divers in the United States who are capable of winning a national championship, qualifying for a FINA Grand Prix event or making the Olympic team.
But you can be pretty sure that if you have qualified for an international competition, you have made it to an elite status in diving and have a shot at qualifying for the Olympics!
Katie Bell
Photo: USA Diving
Katie Bell almost won her second individual national title on platform at the 2012 USA Diving Winter Nationals, but was edged out by Haley Ishimatsu in the finals. Her runner-up finish though guaranteed her a spot on the 2012 FINA World Cup Team along side Haley, and cemented herself as one of the top contenders on platform for a berth on the 2012 Olympic Team.
Kelci Bryant
Photo: USA Diving
With as much, if not more international experience than any national team member, Kelci looks to make her second Olympic Team in 2012. Her competitivness in the pool may be her single best attribute and you can bet that it will be on display at the 2012 World Cup in synchronized springboard and the 2012 Olympic Trials.
Amanda Burke
Kassidy Cook
Photo: USA Diving
Kassidy Cook is a Junior National Champion, a Junior World Champion, a Junior Pan American Games champion, and a U.S. Senior National Champion, all at the tender age of 16. Add to that perhaps an Olympic Team Berth and ... an Olympic Champion!
Amy Cozad
Photo: Indiana University Athletics
Amy got a good taste of international experience at the 2011 Pan American Games and despite results that could have been more indicative of her talent, the key word here is experience. Remember, 2012 is a big year and she we will definitely get that at the 2012 World Cup in synchronized platform.
Carrie Dragland
Mary Beth Dunnichay
Photo: USA Diving
It will be hard to imagine Mary Beth not making the Olympic Team in synchronized platform. She has international experience and has proven that she can compete on the big stage as evidenced by a World Championships silver in 2009. But the X factor will be who will she team with for that synchro berth?