Finding Balance - Diver Spotlight on Kimiko Hirai Soldati

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As she stood on the award podium at the Goodwill Games with the 3-meter bronze medal draped around her neck and Old Glory ascending to the rafters, Kimiko Hirai Soldati (Magnolia, Texas) knew she could do better.

"The Goodwill Games were a lot of fun, and I was honored to have the flag raised," Soldati said. "But that was just the start to my career. I truly know I can do this, and everyday I have the gold medal on my mind. I'm definitely on the right road, and this is going to be a fun journey."

Soldati is fairly new to the diving trip she is riding high on in Texas. At 27-years-old, she could be considered a rookie, competing in her first international meet in 2001.

"I'm 27, but so what," Soldati said. "I'm very hungry and by no means burnt out. I love everything about this sport."

It wasn't always that way for Soldati.

A life-long gymnast, she blew out her knee and turned to diving at the suggestion of her father and a member of the girls high school swim team. While the sport didn't initially "fill her thrill" like gymnastics, Soldati found herself participating in the high school state championships.

"My first state meet I warmed up for four hours. I watched some of my old films the other night, and they were hilarious," Soldati said. "I did two dives in that meet and was cut. It's funny to see how far I've come."

Never competing on USD's junior level, Soldati's prep meets caught the attention of the diving coach at Colorado State University. Although very grateful for the two years she spent at CSU, Soldati got the desire to do more.

She sent letters to collegiate coaches and received a few responses from those who had seen her dive. However, it was a note from Indiana University's Jeff Huber that would change Soldati's entire mentality about the sport.

"Jeff asked me for a tape. I saw it two years ago. I was balking and smaking. It wasn't even edited," she said.

"But he invited me to come for a one week summer camp. I fell in love with it. I knew I wanted to go to I.U. for school and for diving. I learned such a tremendous amount in that week."

After redshirting the 1995 competitive season, 1996 would be a tumultuous campaign for Soldati.

She ended the collegiate year by finishing second on 3-meter at the Big Ten Conference Championships and winning the 1-meter at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Championships. Soldati was also named the NCAA female athlete of the year.

"I had never even come close to qualifying for the NCAA's before 1996," she said. "It was a neat feeling because I got a glimpse at my potential and my future."

A few months later, Soldati began learning platform when she injured her right shoulder. After diagnosing the labrum (area of arm where tendons attach) had ripped from the bicep, Dr. Ben Rubin said surgery was necessary the following week.

"That rocked my whole world. I was just starting to get this sport and it was ripped away from me. It was the most frustrating three years of my life," Soldati said.

Three years is what it would take for Soldati to fully recover from her shoulder injury. Following the initial surgery, she would attend practice each day with the passion and hunger to be participating. An attempted return seven months later proved impossible as she was told another medical procedure was needed.

"My hunger and fire never died out. I am very grateful that I was able to endure and stay with it," Soldati said. "I was like, 'No way. I have way too much ahead of me'."

A second attempted return six months later was also unsuccessful, and Soldati was told to take three to four months off completely.

In December 1998, Soldati made her way back to the dive well, and Huber was with her every step of the way. The following summer she returned to 10-meter and caught the bug.

"Jeff was awesome. We trained on Christmas Eve, because I felt like I was so far behind," Soldati said. "I was so happy to be able to do a full workout. We busted our butts.

"I thank God for Jeff. He did tremendous things and sacrificed a lot for me."

Following her stint in Bloomington, Soldati turned her sights toward The Woodlands, Texas, Ken Armstrong and Laura Wilkinson.

"I had dove a little with Kenny in the past, and Laura was a big reason why I went to Texas. If you want to be the best, you have to dive with the best," Soldati said.

"Laura and I are good, close friends. We share many of the same characteristics. She can only make me better, and I can only make her better."

Although the physical side of diving is very important, Soldati and Armstrong are working diligently on the mental component as well. With an all or nothing tendency, Soldati had to find balance and perspective in her life.

"When I first started diving at I.U., I irritated the team. I was so focused. I was there to do a job, and if you weren't, get out my way," Soldati said.

"I went through a lot to step back and look at what I was doing. Diving was a very big part of my life, but I needed to put it in perspective.

"Adam (Soldati's husband) keeps my feet on the ground. He's the best thing in my life. I'm a control freak, but Adam keeps things in perspective. He's my rock, my solid foundation.

"Kenny is the same way. He wants me to get away from the pool once in a while. He's still learning about me. Kenny is one-of-a-kind. He's magic. I've seen him change people. He has a gift, and it's so neat to be a part of it and receive his gift."

When Soldati gets away from the pool it's usually to enjoy two of her loves - working out and food.

After starting a weight program with Paul Fleschler of USA Weightlifting, Soldati imparted her wisdom on her Woodlands teammates with an abdominal, dryland and weight program.

"Some of the kids said, 'You're so old. How do you stay in such good shape?'," Soldati said. "Natural talent will only take you so far. It's so important to me to do everything I can each day that will pay off later.

"I want everyone to be the best they can be. The training atmosphere here is so incredible. I love working out and being with my team."

That's where her second love comes into play.

"I love to eat. I love everything about food. I just built a house and had to have a bigger kitchen. That's why I have to love to workout, because I love to eat," Soldati said.

With a healthy shoulder, new team and new perspective, Soldati took 2001 by storm. She won her first title (1-meter) and took second on 3-meter and platform at Indoor Nationals.

"I finally showed up at Indoors and showed I'm here to stay and it's only going to get better," Soldati said. "I felt really supported by the athletes and coaches. It felt good to have all that hard work pay off."

Kimiko and her family's hard work paid off this summer as the carried the American flag and led all U.S. athletes in the opening ceremonies of the World Championships in Fukuoka.

"I was so excited and so honored," Soldati said. "My ancestors came from Japan. My dad (Gary) was born in an U.S. internment camp. It was neat to walk out and think how blessed I am and how far my family has come."

Soldati's family has long served as a support system for her. The summer before her senior year in high school, Kimiko's mother passed away after battling breast cancer.

"I think about her every day. I know she's looking down on me and is proud of me," Soldati said. "I get a lot of my strength from her, and it brought my family closer together.

"My dad is awesome. My brother, Chris, and his wife are expecting a child. I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing without my support system," Soldati said.

"I have to be on the fast track. I'm only two and a half years out (2004 Olympics). I just have to take that leap of faith. I have the coach, the talent and the team. I'm putting myself in Gods' and Kenny's hands, and I know I'll go far."