Looking Ahead - Diver Spotlight on Sara Reiling

Click on thumbnail to view image:

The pool has always foretold Sara Reiling's future. It was in the ripples that a young Minnesota girl found interests that would later turn into dreams.

"My aunt works at a school for disabled children and does a lot of work with them in the water," Reiling said. "She teaches them how to be aware while having fun.

"I helped her when I was 10 years old. A little blind and profoundly deaf girl was supposed to lead me from the locker room to the pool. She took me right to the water and found her toys without any help. She knew where everything was by counting her footsteps. I was completely amazed."

Today, Reiling is on a similar path. The Indiana University sophomore will graduate in 2003 with a degree in special education. Although she aspires to one day work with children who are deaf, Reiling has already gained valuable hands-on experience in the Bloomington, Indiana school system.

"After the Olympics, I did some substituting in resource rooms. The experience was very good for me, and I hope to get more opportunities," Reiling said.
In addition to giving her educational opportunities, the months following the Olympics granted Reiling time to recover from arthroscopic wrist surgery.

"I had a ganglion cyst on my right wrist," Reiling said. "There was some scar tissue, so the doctor took off the nerve ending to prevent future problems.

"I still have complete feeling in my wrist. One tiny nerve was removed out of the thousands in the wrist and hand."

The procedure forced Reiling to take some time off from diving. She began dryland training around Christmas and first dove from 3-meter in February.

The recovery schedule designed by Reiling and coach Jeff Huber was tailored with Indoor Nationals as the primary goal. With the NCAA Division I Championships in March, the 2000 NCAA 3-meter silver-medalist and platform bronze-medalist would miss this year's competition.

"I have a redshirt this year. We had a really big team go to the NCAAs, and I felt a little left out, Reiling said. "But, I'm already looking toward next year. There are so many people on the team with great capabilities, and I know they'll all be back next year."

Looking toward a goal has always been a strength for Reiling. When she was 12 years old a doctor told her a stress fracture in her back caused by gymnastics was so severe that she would not be able to walk when she was 30 if she did not pick another sport.

"I watched the University of Minnesota Diving Team practice once, and I knew I wanted to try. I never saw myself as an Olympic gymnast. I wanted to go to the Olympics, so I thought, just pick a sport and do it."

Reiling has found success on the boards. She has been a member of four national teams and took the gold on 3-meter at the 2000 U.S. National Indoor Diving Championship in her native Minnesota.

It was on platform, however, where Reiling's dreams came true. At the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Reiling finished second on platform to earn a berth on the Olympic Team.

"My goal was to make the Olympic Team in 2004. A goal is something reachable, and a dream is something a little past your goal. Dreams do come true and making the 2000 Team was definitely a dream."

In Sydney, Reiling placed 13th on platform, but the competition was not the most memorable experience of the event.

"Opening ceremonies was just incredible. Closing ceremonies was just a big party. I liked Melbourne a lot, Reiling said.

"The whole thing was very eye-opening. It was really neat to be a part of the Athlete Village. There were 10,000 athletes from 300 countries and not one conflict or dispute. It was great to experience the different cultures and be a part of the world peace that happens every four years."

In addition to the 10,000 athletes making Reiling's Olympic memories unforgettable, her family was in Sydney continuing its support.

"My parents, brother and boyfriend were all there. They have always been very supportive and put in the effort to push me along, Reiling said. "Even two of my neighbors were there to cheer me on."

Returning from the Games was difficult for Reiling. Ahead of her waited surgery and the frustration of not being involved in diving. However, she did find solace in a cuddly friend.

"I got a shitzu poodle when I got back from the Olympics. His name is Sebastian, and he's just a bundle of fur," Reiling said. "I always had a dog growing up, and I knew I wanted another one."

Not all of Reiling's interests may have originated in the pool, but she has always found a way to make her dreams come true.