An Insider's View Of The Olympics
Sept. 28, 2000
By Karen Ableman
UM’s Jenny Keimcompleted the biggest day in her Olympic experiencelast night finishing 8th in the women’s individual 3-meter springboard competition and 5th in the women’s synchronized 10-meter event with teammate Laura Wilkinson.
In the synchronized event, China, Canada and Australia went home with the gold, silver and bronze medals. China led the entire contest, but Keim and Wilkinson were in 2nd place after three of their five dives. They faltered on their 4th execution, and that’s all it took for Canada and Australia to claim 2nd and 3rd.
The individual 3-meter contest was the best the world has ever seen. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Fu Mingxia of China defended her title winning her 5th gold medal, the most of any woman in diving history. Second was her teammate Guo Jingjing and third was German diver Doerte Lindner.
“I was very disappointed with our performance in the synchronized event,” Keim explains. “We had a great opportunity for a medal, but after we missed our inward 2 1/2s, I knew it wasn’t going to happen. So, I really had to put that out of my mind and get ready for the evening’s 3-meter final. I am very happy that I was able to perform so well after the earlier disappointment. I wish it was good enough to get a medal, but the competition was fierce and there are some great divers out there. I had a personal bestscore, so I can’t betoo disappointed withthat.”
“I amextremely proud of Jenny,” said UM and USA coach Randy Ableman. “She competed well and proudly represented the university and the United States. I think she’s a little disappointed that she isn’t coming home with a medal, but there’s more to competing in the Olympic Games than medals. Our goal was for her to perform her personal best and she did that.”
“This is my third Olympic Games and Australia has been the best of them all,” said Ableman. “The people here have a great attitude towards life and sport. I’m looking forward to getting back to Miami though, preparingthe college team for our best season ever.”
