A Fort Wayne diver made a big splash at the USA Diving Junior National Championships on July 28 through August 3.
Amelia Rinehart, 14, earned second place in the 3-meter dive board competition in the division for girls aged 14 to 15.
"When I looked up at the scoreboard and realized I was in second place, I was a little disappointed, just because if I'm not first, I'm last. That's just how my brain works. But after a little while, I just started to realize Woah, I just got second in the nation!"
All told, Amelia completed 13 dives--nine in the preliminary rounds and four in the finals--throughout the weekend at the IU Natatorium on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
"During the competition, I never look at the scoreboard," Amelia admits. "I never want to get freaked out by my score or my place. But every now and then, my teammate would say Hey, you're in second place! And I'd be like, Woah, really? Cool!"
Amelia qualified for junior nationals after a rigourous summer schedule. She placed first at regionals to qualify her for the zones competition. Her runner-up finish at zones qualified for her for nationals, which she took home second, as well.
"Throughout the year, I've been looking forward to the meets and looking forward to nationals the entire time," she adds. "Just keeping my mind set on that; and doing whatever I could to keeping getting better. Puting in all the work that I could, never slacking off, never messing around, just all business at practice."
Amelia has become one of the top divers in America in just a short time. The incoming freshman started diving 6 years ago, adding the flips, twists and jumps she had learned through gymnastics to her diving routines. At age 10, Amelia joined the Indiana International Diving Club, which has a location in Fort Wayne. She ultimately decided to continuing over gymnastics, and her young diving career has flourished.
"It feels calming when you're up there on the board," Amelia beams. "Right before you jump off you get that thrill that you're going to be falling, you get to flip, you get to twist."
Additionally, Amelia has trained with PSM Performance through its Edge program over the last year. The training has helped her flexibility, coordination and core strength.
"I was really hoping to get stronger, to be able to jump off the board higher. And that's what I've been done. "Being able to do more flips, to spin faster and have better stability on the board."
"Amelia has increased her strength and power to maximize her height off the board and time in the air on her dives," PSM Performance lead specialist Tyler Palmer says. "She has used PSM Performance to help mitigate pain in her knees from diving."
Amelia hopes to parlay her success this summer club season into more international competitions in the future. She has her sights set on the Olympics in either the Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028 games. Up first, her inaugural high school season this winter for the Snider Panthers.