1/29/2008 2:30:00 AM HIGH SCHOOL DIVING: Olympic-sized advice 2004 Olympics diving qualifier Justin Wilcock speaks to county divers
Photo provided by Justin Wilcock
Justin Wilcock, a 2004 Athens Olympics diving qualifier, worked with Crawfordsville High school students and spoke to Montgomery County swimmers and divers Monday afternoon.
The Paper photo by John Groth
Justin Wilcock (front) and Crawfordsville High School diving coach Dave Whitehead watch Athenians’ divers practice Monday.
Jason Spurlock received some Olympic-sized advice Monday afternoon.
He'd never had an Olympic qualifier talk to him or offer some pointers for during his Crawfordsville High School diving career.
But when 2004 Athens Olympics qualifier and diver Justin Wilcock visited the school, the Athenians' senior and Indiana High School Athletic Association State finalist took the opportunity - and his advice - to heart. He'll definitely remember to stay patient with his dives.
Now, Spurlock hopes the advice propels him to an IHSAA state championship this year.
"It's really cool that (Justin) is here," said Spurlock, who finished 10th in last year's IHSAA State finals. "It's really neat that he's going to the Olympics and it's the highest you can go. Having someone of this status here talking to us is really cool."
Wilcock worked with Crawfordsville divers and then spoke to about 50 county high school and middle school students in the Crawfordsville high school auditorium Monday afternoon.
He is a friend of Crawfordsville high school assistant principal Mark Melton. Melton e-mailed Wilcock earlier last week and asked if he'd be interested in speaking to the Athenians, especially with the IHSAA sectionals coming up. Wilcock obliged.
Wilcock finished second in the three-meter springboard at the 2004 Olympic Trials and qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Just before the Olympics he learned he had a stress fracture, but he still competed through the injury. He finished 32nd out of 32nd in the diving competition.
Now, he's aiming to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Wilcock just returned from the World Cup Trials in Columbus, Ohio, where he qualified to compete in the China Open in Shenzhen, China, at the end of February.
Wilcock told students there is no magic pill to becoming a champion. Instead, he had his own prescription, which included three ingredients - dreams and goals, hard work and knowing what to do with the results you get/how you handle wins and losses.
Wilcock has followed the Olympics since he was 5-years-old when he saw Olympic gymnasts competing in the 1984 Olympic games on television.
He wrote reports on the Olympics for school and even had one of his birthday cakes designed with the five Olympic rings.
"I became obsessed with the Olympics," he said.
After starting as a gymnast as child, he switched to diving when he was 12. Wilcock swam and dove in high school and then attend BYU for college - graduating in 2005.
One day, during his first year at the Utah school, he went to eat dinner with some friends. Wilcock happened to pick up a newspaper while they were waiting to be seated and came across the headline "Athens awarded 2004 Olympics".
From that moment on, he knew that was his goal.
Wilcock tore the headline out, put it in a frame and placed the frame over his bed - giving him a constant reminder until he finally went to the Olympics.
"I don't consider myself one of those athletes who was gifted right from the beginning," he said. "A lot of divers were much better athletes than I was."
Wilcock worked with Athenians' divers for 45 minutes - but acknowledged it's hard coming in and watching people you haven't seen dive for the first time.
He looked for little ways of helping them improve their score - like having their arms right over their head before diving and their position on the takeoff from the board.
"It makes a big difference," he said. "Some (divers) were good and some could work on it a little more."
With some encouragement from Southmont coach Kevin Hedrick, Mounties' junior diver Morgan Fouty attended Wilcock's speech.
She liked how he described his different motivational quotes and how they help him.
"I have little quotes in my room glued up to help motivate me," Fouty said. "It's nice to hear he does some of the same things, too. Even telling us to visualize diving before a meet - those little tips can help us out."
Crawfordsville diving coach Dave Whitehead wished he could sit down with Wilcock and talk to him for a longer period of time.
"He (worked with divers) on pulling on through with their arms," he said. "He thought of things I wouldn't think of. I would like to spend more time with him. I could learn so much more."
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