BYU NewsNet - BYU Diving Coach to be Olympic Judge in Beijing

By Zack Warren

Nearly 40 years after his first Olympic experience, BYU diving coach Keith Russell is ready to give the international sporting event another shot, but this time he won't be diving.

In 1968 Russell won the NCAA three-meter diving championships and earned an invitation to the Olympic trials. Russell finished fourth in the ten-meter platform event that year, placing a few points behind third place and one spot from a coveted Olympic medal. Russell is still troubled by his fourth place finish and his Olympic experience.

"Absolutely I still think about that day," Russell said. "You go there with a plan and goal to win."

But his experience taught him things don't always go as planned. Even though he won't be able to compete for a medal, he will return to the Olympics, this time as the one deciding who goes home a medal winner.

Because of Russell's dedication and success in diving he was chosen as the American representative to judge the diving competition for the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing.

"It's the epitome of everything that I have done," Russell said. "It feels as if I have won a gold medal."

Russell will leave for Beijing this August as the only diving judge to represent the United States, but this accomplishment wasn't without hard work and sacrifice.

For the past six years Russell has been traveling the world as a judge in international competitions, which included judging the 2000 Olympic trials. While traveling to different events he also served on the USA Diving Board of Directors and has been the head coach of the BYU men's and women's diving teams.

Russell attributes much of his recent success and Olympic invitation to the support and aid of the BYU athletic administration and men's and women's swimming staff. Russell said the men's and women's swimming coaches have taken money out of their budget to help pay for his judging expenses.

"I feel like this is an opportunity to pay back the administration and swimming coaches for everything they have done for me," Russell said. "The administration has helped me every year become more advanced in my profession."

The BYU athletic department and administration appreciate what Russell has done for the university and acknowledge his accomplishments. While Russell has been at the helm of the BYU diving program he has earned multiple Mountain West Conference Diving Coach of the Year awards. Russell was also named the diving coach for the 1999 and 2001 U.S. team at the World Student University Games.

Russell has coached numerous All-American divers including two-time All-American Rachelle Kunkel and three-time All-American Aaron Russell. He has had two BYU divers go on to compete in the Olympic games, Kunkel and All-American Justin Wilcock, both of whom dove for the United States in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Russell's son, Aaron, earned All-American status in 2000, 2001 and 2003 for BYU. "He has produced a ton of great divers," Athletic Director Tom Holmoe said. "He is not only a great judge, but a great coach. He has earned respect through commitment to his sport and profession."

The athletic department also understands the significance of Russell's invitation and what it means to the university. The Olympics is a sporting event seen around the world.

According to the Web site multimedia.Olympic.org, the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, set a record for the most watched sporting event ever. More than 3.7 million people watched the 2000 summer games. The Sydney Olympics were broadcast in 220 countries generating more than 36.1 billion viewing television hours.

Craig Manning, U.S. aerialist psychologist and BYU women's tennis coach, said it is exciting to know the whole world is watching. It creates a climax because the event comes every four years.

"It's great to have someone representing BYU on a worldly standpoint," said academic advisor Jamal Willis. "Sometimes we look at ourselves within the college ranks, but when we have someone representing us on a world's stage and to have our name stamped on it is incredible."

The magnitude of the Olympics creates pressure for everyone involved. Russell is no different and realizes that only through preparation and hard work will he be able to manage his nerves.

"I look at judging similar to the way I look at a diving competition," Russell said. "You have to be prepared, you have to have your mind and health together, so you are attentive and can perform at your best."

Before Russell leaves for the Olympics he will continue to judge events and train for Beijing. In February Russell will judge the FINA Diving World Cup, an international diving competition that prepares and helps determine who will dive in the Olympics.

"I hope it will be worthwhile," Russell said. "The whole objective of the athletic department is to present a good window for the church and to show what the church and this university stand for."