"I don't know if what he did was an inspiration to anyone else," Armstrong said. "But it was to me. He sucked it up. He stood up and did what he had to do. A lot of people would have pulled out."

"You dream of going to the Olympics, what you don't dream about is getting a zero and hitting the board," Wilcock said. "It wasn't the best meet of my life, that's for sure, but I have no regrets. It was what I was dealt today. I feel like I did everything I could. I think that's maybe why I have a smile on my face.

"I'm planning on sticking around for four years and being in Beijing," Wilcock, who turned 25 in June, said before grabbing his backpack, hugging his parents and heading with them to the exit.

"This has been a great experience to get ready for that. I'll take this and use it for that much more determination when I get on the board there."

He paused before adding, "No matter how it goes, it can't get any worse."

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Lee Benson is in Athens to report on the 2004 Summer Games for Deseret Morning News readers. This is his ninth assignment to cover the Olympics. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com.