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IU Student Wins Spot on Olympic Diving Team
Kinesiology student and member of the US Olympic
team, Christina Loukas "I am forever an Olympian now."
Bloomington, Ind - Christina Loukas, a kinesiology student in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER), grabbed the top spot at the U.S. Olympic diving trials in Indianapolis on Saturday, officially qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games. “I feel awesome right now,” Loukas reflected today. “Knowing that I have secured a spot takes such a load off of my shoulders. Now I will able to really focus on doing well at the Olympic Games."
Loukas scored almost 90 points over the second-place diver, Nancilea Foster. Her victory capped several days of success beginning with the preliminary round, in which she scored more than 60 points on her five preliminary dives. She scored 370.80 points in the morning session, ended the semi-final round with 729.85 points, and scored an average of 9.0 on her last five dives. Loukas’ stellar performance included a forward 2 ½ somersault 1 twist pike, earning the first 9.5 mark of the evening, along with three 9.0 scores and three 8.5 scores. She also received 25 bonus points for her performance in February’s 2008 World Cup in Beijing where she finished fourth.
“I feel lucky to have competed at this pool, so I will be able to visualize myself and get a feel for what it is going to be like. That will prevent me from getting overwhelmed and reduce some of the stress,” said Loukas.
As the winner of the Olympic diving trials, Loukas isn’t required to attend the Olympic team selection camp in July, but she plans to go anyway, in the hope that she will be chosen to compete in the 3-meter synchronized diving event.
Loukas maintains a rigorous training schedule: Daily practice from 11-1pm and again from 4-6. “And after I am done with my two practices I try to do at least 30 minutes of cardio.”
How have Loukas’ academic pursuits helped secure her place in the Olympics? “Being a kinesiology student has definitely helped my diving in different aspects. My nutrition classes have taught me how to properly fuel my body. Anatomy, physiology of exercise, and personal fitness allowed me to understand how to properly train. I know which muscles to strengthen and how to do so.
“I love the kinesiology program because everything you learn has to do with yourself. I am so fascinated with how the human body works. I think it is also a great program because the staff is amazing. All of my professors really enjoy what they do and it makes learning that much better.”
The professors at HPER are understandably proud. “The Olympics is such an amazing event that, for a brief period of time, unites the country and world,” said Donetta Cothran, chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology in HPER. “It's exciting to know that the eyes of the world will be watching one of our Department of Kinesiology students perform.
“Our department promotes the central role of science in the study of human movement, and I'm confident that Ms. Loukas' studies provided a strong foundation for her as both a student and an athlete. Certainly we're proud of all 1100 of our undergraduate majors, but Ms. Loukas' accomplishments are truly world class and we look forward to watching her performance in Beijing as she represents our country. I know she'll have the Department students, staff, and faculty cheering her on in her medal quest.”
“The moment I found out I won the Olympic Trials I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I had tears of joy when I realized I had finally done it. I just kept thinking to myself, ‘I am forever an Olympian now,’ which is just crazy for me to think about. I think about all the amazing Olympic athletes who are classified as the best in the world and it is such an honor to be part of that now.
Contact: Debra Kent, Executive Director of Advancement
The School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
Indiana University, Bloomington
855.3686
