Four-time Olympic medalist David Boudia goes for U.S. title in Indy David Woods, david.woods@indystar.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Fear clings as closely to a platform diver as it does to those in extreme sports. Even champion divers acknowledge they must overcome anxiety to jump off a 32-foot tower — as high as a three-story building — twisting and turning before hitting the water at 35 mph.
For 16 years, David Boudia conquered such fear. He drew stick figures of dives he would attempt, went off 10-meter platforms all over the world, won four medals at three Olympic Games.
Then, in a February 2018 workout, he lost his position in the air on his favorite dive — a back 3 ½ pike — and smacked the water.