TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

It's Official: Colwill Makes Beijing Games

Tribune file photo by MIKE YOUNG (2006)

Chris Colwill, a 23-year-old Brandon native and Tampa Prep graduate, was officially named to the Olympic roster Monday.

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

TAMPA - More than anything else, Brandon's Chris Colwill said he was relieved to finally see his name on the official list of U.S. divers who will compete in next month's Beijing Olympics

"It feels awesome," Colwill said. "I'm real excited about going. Hopefully, I can show my talent against the world."

The Tampa Prep and University of Georgia graduate knew he had done everything needed at last week's Selection Camp in Knoxville, Tenn., to earn a spot on the team. He dominated his individual event, the 3-meter springboard, and, with Boca Raton's Jevon Tarantino, swept all four lists in 3-meter synchronized.

Colwill also met other criteria to make the Olympic team, such as finishing second at last month's Olympic trials and competing in recent world cups and world championships. But until he saw his name in black and white, Colwill refused to say it was a certainty.

Now it is.

USA Diving held a news conference Monday afternoon to formally name Colwill and his 11 teammates who will represent the United States in Beijing's diving competition. Colwill earned his trip to China in both of his events and can now focus on the Olympics, his sport's biggest stage.

This will be Colwill's second trip to the pool where the diving competition will take place in Beijing. In January, he dove in a world cup meet at China's National Aquatics Center, nicknamed "The Water Cube" for its unusual membrane superstructure that resembles the natural formation of soap bubbles.

"I already know what board I want to compete on there and I'm familiar with the surroundings," Colwill said. "When I first walked in there, the design was a little too much to handle. It's just a massive pool and it takes time to let it sink in. Now I go in there and know what to expect."

Still, Colwill knows there's a big difference between a world cup meet and the Olympics.

"I know every one is human and we're all going to walk in there overwhelmed once the opening ceremonies start and it's going to be a difficult task to calm yourself down," Colwill said. "I just need to embrace it, have fun and do what I'm capable of doing.

Colwill's parents, Chuck and Debbie Colwill, said they plan to be there for the Games.

"This is what we've been waiting for," Chuck Colwill said. "We had made some tentative plans and now, with this announcement, we can finally square them away."

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456 or wward@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT