Sports

Olympic Diver Chris Colwill Returns to Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center

Olympic diver Chris Colwill signed autographs for his fans at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center in Brandon on July 7. Next stop for Colwill, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

 

Thanks to Brandon native Chris Cowill, the Greater Brandon area will be well represented when the 2012 Olympics in London get under way July 27.

Colwill won a spot on the United States Olympic dive team with a picture-perfect performance in the men’s 3-meter springboard during the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 24 in Federal Way, Wash.

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Before heading to London next week, Colwill, who now lives in Athens, Ga., paid a July 7 visit to his old training grounds, the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, to thank his supporters.

Colwill began swimming at the center at the age of 5, eventually joining the center's dive program under then-coach Joe Greenwell.

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"I spent my childhood here," he said. "It kept me out of trouble and I met a lot of friends." The center, he added, "made me who I am today."

He went on to dive competitively at Tampa Prep under coach Jenny Frankowiak.

"I watched him grow up and saw the Olympic potential in him at a young age," said Frankowiak. "I knew he'd go far."

Chuck Burgess, executive director of the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, said he was grateful Colwill was willing to take the time to stop by the center on July 7.

"We're so excited for Chris and his family and we're proud to play a role in his success. BSAC is continuing to help kids reach all of their dreams and goals," Burgess said.

"I was really pleased that Chris had a chance to come out and see all the support he has here in Brandon," added his father, Chuck. "He doesn't really get to see the support he has around here."

But Chris Colwill said he knew Brandon was behind him during the Olympic trials. "I could hear you all the way to Seattle," he said.

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Colwill said he knew the moment he'd hit the water after his dive at trials that he was headed to London.

"It's my favorite dive and I always save it for the end because I know I can give it 110 percent," said Colwill, in between signing photos for his fans at BSAC.

"it was the most exciting dive I've seen in the 20 years I've been watching Chris dive," said his father, Chuck.

Considered one of the country's top divers, Colwill first made the Olympic dive team in 2008, coming in 12th at the Beijing games.

"I thought about retirement after the 2008 games but then I realized I really wanted to keep diving," said Colwill, 27. "But this will be the last time for me."

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  • For more on this report, written by Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch editor D'Ann White, including comments from Colwill's friends and neighbors, read .

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