Wilcock is making quite a splash

HOUSTON — A homegrown boy from Smithfield by the name of Justin Wilcock is making a name for himself on the national diving scene and getting his chance to chase down an Olympic dream.

Wilcock, a member of the U.S. National Diving Team since 2003, ranks among the top U.S. divers on the three-meter springboard and will be one of two representatives for the United States in the event at the 14th FINA Diving World Cup being held Feb. 18-22 in Athens.

To qualify for the World Cup, Wilcock had to finish in the top two at the World Cup Trials last week in Huntersville, N.C. This will be Wilcock's first trip to the international competition after placing third at the World Championship Trials last year.

"I would say I probably felt more relief and disbelief after finally making the team than excitement," said Wilcock, whose quest for a spot on the World Cup and Olympic team began nearly three years ago.

"The World Cup is pretty much the same meet as the Olympics," said Wilcock, "It's in the same pool, with the same competitors and the same judges."

Wilcock's dream of being an Olympian began when he started taking gymnastics in Smithfield. It soon became apparent that it was going to be harder for him to make it as a gymnast because of his height so he switched to diving at age 14.

Overnight Wilcock began dominating the diving competitions he entered. He now had a new dream — becoming an Olympic diver.

With only a one-meter board in Smithfield, his dad Scott drove Wilcock to Slap Diving in Salt Lake City where he could get better training.

On the weekends, Wilcock and his father toured the western United States in their old Dodge van to compete in regional competitions and other meets in the area.

"We have never had to push Justin," said his father. "As soon as he was 16 he lived with friends and relatives in places where he could get training." The dedication paid off as Wilcock earned High School All-America and Academic All-America honors.

Coming out of high school, Wilcock was recruited by BYU, where he dove for the Cougars for three years.

"When talking to recruits, I used Justin as a good example of what it is like to be at BYU," said BYU diving coach Keith Russell. "We had the best men's program we ever had while he was here and he is a huge reason for that."