David Boudia named USA Diving Athlete of the Year

GREENSBORO, NC. (WLFI) - Former Purdue diver David Boudia was named USA Diving Athlete of the Year for the fourth time in his decorated career, receiving the award Saturday at the United States Aquatic Sports Convention.

Boudia won two medals at the 2012 Olympics in London, highlighted by his thrilling gold-medal victory in the 10-meter platform in the final diving event of the Games. He also teamed with Nick McCrory to win bronze in the synchronized 10-meter platform.

Boudia also won USA Diving’s Athlete of the Year award in 2008, 2010 and 2011. He was named USA Diver of the Year at the same conference that awarded Missy Franklin the USA Swimmer of the Year.

In August, Boudia became the first American man to win 10-meter platform gold at the Olympics since Greg Louganis in 1988. He also claimed Team USA's first individual diving medal at the Olympics since Laura Wilkinson won gold in the 10-meter platform at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney; Mark Lenzi's bronze in the 3-meter springboard at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta marked the last individual medal by an American man. The 1992 Olympics marked the last time an American man medal in the 10-meter platform.

Boudia scored 90-plus points on five of his six dives of the 10-meter platform finals, including a 102.60 on his final dive, to win the gold medal. Most impressively, he responded after a so-so performance in the quarterfinals that saw him place 18th of 32 in the preliminary round. He was third in the semifinals to set him up for his gold-medal push in the evening finals.

Boudia and McCrory became the first American duo to medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform since it was added to the program in 2000.

Since winning USA Diving’s Athlete of the Year last September, Boudia also captured the individual and synchronized (with McCrory) 10-meter platform titles at the USA Diving Winter Nationals in December.

He went on to finish fourth at the FINA Diving World Cup in London (February), won five medals in the Diving World Series (March and April) and finished first in both 10-meter platform competitions at the USA Olympic Team Trials (June).