UM's Viola Advances to Semifinals of Women's Platform Diving
July 17, 2009
10-m Platform Results in PDF Format 
Rome, Italy – Brittany Viola, captain of the U.S. Women’s Diving Team, qualified for the semifinals of the Women’s 10-meter platform on Friday at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Viola performed five dives Friday, saving her best dive for the end in what is considered one of her best events.
The 5-foot-5 Orlando native was named a captain for the U.S. women’s team, while the men’s captain is Chris Colwill (Brandon, Fla.), a 2006 NCAA Champion on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard from the University of Georgia.
Viola began Friday’s diving session with a Forward 3 ½ Somersault Pike, scoring a 63.20, before bouncing back to score a 67.20 on her third dive–an Armstand Back 2 Somersault 1 ½ Twist Free. On her fifth and final dive, Viola (the 2009 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships Most Outstanding Female Diver), registered her highest score of the day with a 73.10 on a Back 2 ½ Somersault 1 ½ Twist Pike.
With a total score of 298.80, Viola finished 17th overall in the preliminaries. China’s Ruolin Chen cruised into the semifinals with a first place showing in the prelims, never trailing after her fourth dive. Viola will participate in the semifinals Saturday, July 18 at 6:30 pm (EST), slated to dive second in the rotation.
“I didn’t know where I was after the fourth round, but I knew after my inward that it wasn’t good,” Viola said. “I didn’t do that dive like I wanted to, so I’m excited that I get another chance to come out (Saturday) and be a little more confident and do it like I know I can.”
Hurricanes men’s diver Reuben Ross is also participating in this year’s FINA World Championships, diving for his home country of Canada. The Regina, Saskatchewan native begins his competition Friday as well, taking part in the Men’s 3-meter Synchronized Springboard alongside partner Alexandre Despatie (Laval, Quebec).
Last month in Quebec City, the two set a meet record score en route to the gold medal in their competitive debut on three-meter springboard at the Summer Nationals diving competition. Despatie and Ross combined for 430.23 points. They saw 9.0’s out of a possible 10 on five of their six dives in that event.
They are scheduled to begin their quest for a world championship at 6:30 pm (EST).
The FINA World Championships or “World Aquatics Championships” are the World Championships for aquatic sports: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo. The Championships are run by FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation). In the pool, swimming events are contested in a 50-meter, or “long course” pool.
The event was first held in 1973, and is now held every two years. From 1978-1998, the World Championships were held every four years, in the even years between Summer Olympic years. From 2001 on, the World Championships has been held every two years, in the off years.
For more information on the University of Miami Swimming & Diving team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, results and information regarding the Hurricanes Swimming & Diving program.
