BYU diver to represent U.S. in China

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BYU diver Brandon Watson leaves for Shenzhen, China, on Friday to represent the United States at the Summer World University Games.

This will not be the first time Watson has represented his country and BYU this summer. He traveled to Germany in May to compete in the Grand Prix meet.

“This will be a great opportunity for him to represent the U.S.,” BYU diving coach Keith Russell said in a news release. “He will be diving at a very high level of competition against many Olympians. When going from one level to another like that, it’s hard and effort on a daily basis is needed. But Brandon enjoys this sort of thing because he is a great competitor.”

[media-credit name=”Photo courtesy of Stephen Pingry | NCAA Photos” align=”alignleft” width=”200″][/media-credit]
The Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at the Oklahoma Community College Aquatic Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Watson is a junior from Riverton who has been invited to compete in both the one and 3-meter springboard events. He was invited to the games in April and has been preparing for them all summer.

 

 

 

 

“It has been kind of the same,” Watson said. “I have two practices a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, so I can really work and focus on each board.”

Watson will be joined by 11 other divers from Ohio State, University of Minnesota, Purdue University, Indiana University, Miami University, University of Missouri, University of Alabama and Florida State to create the U.S. team.

Watson went to California on Monday to compete against his teammates at nationals. He said they would leave together for China after nationals to compete in the games.

The games take place Aug. 12-23 and feature athletes from more than 170 countries who will be participating in 35 different sports.

“I’m really looking forward to the international competition,” Watson said. “I will get to compete against amazing divers. In these kinds of situations, you never know what to expect. It is a different ballgame over there, which makes it really exciting.”

This competition will provide Watson valuable experience to prepare for his real dream of one day competing in the Olympics.

“I’m excited about it,” Watson said. “Hopefully I can do my best and represent my country well.”

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