David Boudia, U.S. Olympic gold medallist diver, struggled to ride the high... At the age of 11, in suburban Indianapolis, Boudia’s ambitions began to take shape as he worked towards becoming a top athlete. This advice is something that Boudia has had to draw on again since recovering from depression because, as he discovered, life isn’t a linear journey. The challenge of the 3m springboard reignited his passion for the sport. After excelling in the 10m platform, David Boudia suffered concussion and retired from diving. However, Boudia soon found he didn’t enjoy being back on the 10-meter platform, where he had won all of his Olympic medals, including the individual gold in 2012. Boudia's move from platform to springboard is a natural progression for divers. He retired an Olympic champion and four-time medallist in one diving event,... Boudia’s experience isn’t uncommon - in the last two decades, the suicide rate among people aged 10 to 24 has increased dramatically by over 50%. The 2019 World Championships marked Boudia’s first real test in his new event, where he finished fifth. ... Men’s 3-meter: David Boudia. According to Boudia, he began to feel anxiety on the 10-meter platform. His preparation involves more than just reps in the swimming pool. David Alasdair Boudia /boʊˈdaɪə/ (born April 24, 1989) is an American diver. Being at the Games was a rollercoaster that saw him experience the highs of competing among the world’s top athletes contrasted with days when he felt inexplicably low. He has spent the past five months training to dive off the 3-meter springboard, after winning a combined nine Olympic and world medals on the platform, including four in synchronized, dating back to 2007. But he wasn’t prepared for the impact that achieving this would have on his mental health and the deep depression that would accompany his new-found success. It takes experience and competition.”. By Alex Abrams | While sidelined, he made some major changes to his life. reading, video games and hanging out with friends. While he was the king of platform, Soldati believes there is a strong foundation for springboard success. Boudia, whose favorite dive is 109C, enjoys anything competitive (football, basketball, soccer, etc.) Throughout this process, he has also learned the importance of finding a balance between work and life to avoid burning out again. He has a simple way of explaining the difference. Steele Alexander Johnson (born June 16, 1996) is an Olympic silver medal-winning American diver.He has won multiple national titles at both the junior and college levels. That knocked him out of … If you are struggling with your mental health, it often feels as though there is no one you can trust to confide in, but from Boudia’s experience, just getting your emotions out and letting go of the expectations of your life’s journey is the best step you can take. “Let’s say you drive a sedan your entire life and you step out and you get into a truck, and the feel is just different,” Boudia said. Boudia's journey to Olympic 10m platform gold at London 2012 wasn't just a physical battle, it was a mental one too. "The lights turned out and it was like I was this average Joe again.". Boudia suffered a concussion this past year, which played a large part in why he made the switch to the 3-meter board. He hated training, and his stress level was “extremely high” as he tried juggling being a husband, a father and a budding real estate entrepreneur. David found out later that the coach had said he would never be good enough to compete at the highest level due to his having a “banana back.” Boudia remembers this as the moment that triggered his “turbo self,” a hyper-competitive drive to excel. When Boudia was 12 years old, a legendary Olympic coach came to his pool. Johnson made his Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, where he won a silver medal with David Boudia in the men's 10 m synchronized platform diving competition. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 08: David Boudia and Steele Johnson of the United States compete in … He’ll then train heavily in the hopes of posting a strong showing at the 2019 world championships and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. At its worst, depression can be debilitating; Boudia struggled to get out of bed and avoided talking to his friends or going to class and practice. Despite Steele’s struggle with his memory, he went on to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. That included recognising that success is as much about the journey as it is about the end goal and learning to enjoy it by not worrying about what he can’t control along the way. Boudia experienced dizziness, blackouts and fatigue following his dive in February that went horribly wrong. What am I doing? Of course, Boudia has had to adjust to diving off the 3-meter springboard, which is like jumping off a one-story building compared to the greater heights where he made his mark. While in Rio, Steele won a silver medal with teammate David Boudia for men’s synchronized 10-meter platform diving, and finally opened up for the first time about his memory loss… Unwavering Faith "What’s the purpose? Boudia, 29, a former Noblesville resident … After winning his third and fourth Olympic medals in 2016 in Rio, Boudia had taken a break from the sport to explore what else life had to offer, only to decide in fall 2017 to make a comeback. But concentrating all of his efforts on the fleeting goal of winning was damaging to his mental health. Each Tuesday leading up to the Games, TeamUSA.org will present a nugget you should read about – from athletes to watch to storylines to follow to Japanese culture and landmarks – as part of “Tokyo 2020 Tuesday.” Follow along on social media with the hashtag #Tokyo2020Tuesday. From a young age, he was always driven by what he now feels were superficial goals; fame, riches and notoriety. Yet in an odd way, the crash brought him some much-needed clarity. Why am I here? Want to learn to curl like the pros? 2020 - All rights reserved, What Moves Me | David Boudia: Valuing the journey, Boudia on new goals after diving "head first from a three-storey building", Finals - Men's 10m Platform | London 2012 Replays. Find out why the American is now targeting a fifth Olympic medal in Tokyo. Olympic diving champion David Boudia was supposed to be in Tokyo right now. After his third Games at Rio 2016, Boudia suffered a concussion whilst diving off a 10m platform, forcing him to re-evaluate his discipline and ultimately choose to leave his 10m platform career behind and pursue the 3m springboard for Tokyo. But, he luckily only suffered a minor concussion. David Boudia looks up after diving from an 8-meter cliff at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on July 22, 2017 in Polignano a Mare, Italy. After taking a break from the sport following a concussion in early 2018, four-time Olympic medalist David Boudia made the switch from platform to 3-meter springboard. 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. Boudia and Finchum were 2009 World Championship (Rome) Silver Medalists, and 2007 World Championship (Melbourne) Bronze Medalists. David Boudia, a four-time medalist aiming for his fourth Olympic Games, has been dealt a setback in his diving comeback. The injury nearly cost him his life. He won the gold medal in the 10 metre platform diving competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal in the same event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The pair will star in ongoing in-store activations, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, and a flyaway consumer sweepstakes, bringing to life how to “Refresh the … According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s now the second leading cause of death among young Americans. The 29-year-old Boudia decided after talking with his wife, Sonnie, that he had to put some things on hold if he was going to make a serious run at qualifying for his fourth Olympics — the Tokyo 2020 Games. ©2020 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Boudia announced his return to diving in September 2017, then suffered his concussion during training in February 2018. 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