By Mark Ambrogi
David Boudia was far from satisfied.
“It’s funny that after the competition was over, I wasn’t extremely happy with it,” he said. “Obviously I did well, but that’s not going to cut it in Rio. There is a lot more work to do and a lot more dives to be put down. While I’m happy, I know I have a lot of work to do.”
Boudia, who grew up in Noblesville, earned the right to defend his Olympic gold medal by capturing the top, 10-meter-platform spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials June 26 at the natatorium at IUPUI.
Boudia, 27, won the 10-meter platform at the 2012 London Olympics. The Rio Olympics are set to begin Aug. 5.
Carmel’s Steele Johnson, who placed second, got the other 10-meter-platform Olympic spot.
“Steele and I know that the dogfight will be even bigger in Rio,” Boudia said.
Boudia and Johnson also qualified in the 10-meter synchronized competition by winning the trials title June 23.
After his triumph, Boudia hugged and kissed his 1-year-old daughter Dakoda and then gave his wife, Sonnie, a kiss.
“It was great to share this with my wife and my daughter and my whole family,” said Boudia, a former Purdue diver who trains in West Lafayette.
This will be Boudia’s third trip to the Olympics. He also won a bronze in 2012 with former synchronized partner Nick McCrory.
His experience helped in this Olympic Trials.
“It wasn’t confidence that I was going to make it,” said Boudia, who won the 2004-05 one-meter state diving championship as a Noblesville High School sophomore. “I had confidence that I’ve been through this before. I know how to calm my nerves in pretty high-pressure situations. This is the perfect competition to get you ready for Rio. I know I’m going out there and doing it for God’s glory.”
