As a child, Christina Loukas would do flips off the couch for fun. Today, she’s diving off a springboard going for Olympic medals.
The 26-year-old Greek American is a 3 meter springboard diver who finished ninth at the Beijing Olympics four years ago. She’s now vying for a spot on the USA team that will compete in the 2012 London Games.
Her dream, which is well within reach, is to go to London and nail the perfect dive to win a medal – the gold.
But first things first. Loukas has to qualify. She is now in Seattle for the trials, which will start on June 17. More than 100 of the nation’s best divers will be competing for 14 spots on the 2012 US Olympic Diving Team.
The Chicago native, whose parents signed her up for gymnastics when she was three years old, started diving at 12. Her first flip off the board – and that was it. Hooked on the thrill of diving into the water, she fell in love with the sport, gave up gymnastics and never looked back.
Loukas started competing in 2003, placing 1st in the one-meter at the USA-Canada Challenge. She made the national team in 2005.
In 2009, she was named the NCAA diver of the year and has had a lengthy list of accomplishments throughout her career, ranging from national and international titles.
Loukas has been training at the Woodlands Diving Academy in Texas with her coach Kenny Armstrong and his associates. She moved to Texas after training six years at the University of Indiana, where she graduated in 2009 with a degree in exercise science.
When did you start diving?
Growing up, I was a gymnast. That was my main sport. In the summers, I would do swimming and diving. And then I just got to the point where I was growing tired of gymnastics. I was doing really well in diving and I started doing it year round and I just took it from there. I started competing when I was 12 years old.
What’s it like training for the Olympics?
I’m training in Woodlands, Texas, just outside Huston. I actually moved down here about a year and a half ago to train with the coach Kenny Armstrong [a three-time Canadian Olympian]. I am training twice a day, Monday-Friday. I am also doing other things like palates and yoga outside of practicing. I’m training about 5 or 6 hours each day. Training gets more intense and more focused the closer the Olympics come.
What’s the hardest part of diving?
I would say the fact that you are trying to get perfection. This can be very frustrating because you have put in so many hours of training and then you go to a competition and it’s just five dives. All this time and energy spent and you only get five chances to get everything right. It’s a very mental sport. It’s not only physically draining but definitely mental. But that’s also what makes it fun and competitive.
You made your Olympic debut in Beijing. What was that like?
It was an amazing experience and I am so glad I was able to do it. This is what is motivating me to go to London. In Beijing I finished 9th. I want to go back and do a lot better.
What’s changed since Beijing?
I am doing the same dives that I did in 2008. But I think the biggest change for me has been switching coaches. In 2010, I decided I needed to make a change if I wanted to take my diving to the next level. I guess I wanted a new set of eyes to watch my diving. That’s why I moved to Huston to train with the coach there. I’ve changed my technique a lot.
Tell me about your Greek background?
My father was born in Greece. My whole family, my cousins, aunts and my whole Greek side is so close to me. They are my biggest supporters. I think you get that in the Greek community – this sense of togetherness. I really feel that a lot, especially when I went to the Olympics in Beijing. Everyone at my church was so supportive of me and they wanted the best for me and they followed my competitions.
For me it was really helpful knowing that I had a big support group back home. And, my family travels everywhere with me. When I went to a world cup in London, I think I had 10 people there with me. They had come all the way from Chicago.
Have you thought about what you would like to do when you retire from diving?
Career-wise, I would like to work with elite athletes.
Do you have any advice for an athlete who is just starting out?
I think the hardest part for me was that when I was younger people would say ‘Oh, wow you’re so good!’ and they used to tell me that I could make it far –to the Olympics. I just never believed them. I had no confidence in my ability.
I think my advice would be that if you are passionate about something, you should really go after it. And make it your priority. If you set a goal, just go after it and things will happen.
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Career Highlights
NATIONAL
Nine-time national champion (1-meter 2007, 2008, 2009 x2; 3-meter 2010, 2011; synchronized 3-meter 2009, 2010; synchronized 10-meter 2006)
Won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on 3-meter
2008 U.S. Olympic Team member (3-meter)
Finished as high as second on 3-meter three times at national championship meets before winning her first title on that event in 2010
INTERNATIONAL
Silver medalist on 3-meter synchro at 2012 FINA Diving World Series (Dubai, Tijuana), bronze medalist on 3-meter (Tijuana)
Fourth on 3-meter at 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai (first top-four finish by a U.S. woman on 3-meter at Worlds since 1994)
Eighth on 3-meter at 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome
Ninth on 3-meter at 2008 Olympic Games
Fourth on 3-meter at 2008 FINA World Cup in Beijing
Silver medalist on 3-meter at 2007 World University Games
Silver medalist on 3-meter synchro at 2007 Italian Grand Prix, Comunidad de Madrid
