When Laura Wilkinson started diving as a teen she immediately knew where she belonged: in a pool — or, rather, on its diving platform. The 30-year-old native of Spring has devoted her life to the sport that earned her Olympic Gold in 2000 in 10-meter platform diving as well as a gold medal in every major world competition in platform diving.

She's poised to compete again this summer in Beijing and then plans to retire. As important as her physical training is, Wilkinson also nurtures her soul believing that "diving is not who I am, it's what I do. It doesn't consume my life, although I have a passion for it."

Her diet

A vegetarian for six years, Wilkinson last year added chicken and fish to her diet to generate the muscle mass she needs to complete more difficult dives. She says she eats three balanced meals a day, plus a protein bar snack.

Training regimen

To compete internationally, training dominates her time six days a week. The morning is spent stretching, tumbling, working out on the trampoline and then diving. After a lunch break, she's back in the water for an hour and a half of dives followed by a dry-land workout. Three times a week she does Pilates; twice a week she does jumping exercises.

Best advice

Diving is a sport fraught with body image issues. Who wouldn't be self conscious if their work was judged while wearing a swimsuit? Wilkinson preaches moderation. "Don't worry about the number on the scale," she said. "It won't define your health or fitness or how well people will like you."

Down time

Wilkinson has very little time off, but likes to spend it doing ordinary things: painting a room in her house, fussing with yard work, doing craft projects or reading. (She recently read False Witness by Randy Singer.)

What's next?

As she gears up for the 2008 Olympics, she's also starting a campaign to raise $11 million for a new diving facility in The Woodlands to train the next generation of American divers. Check it out at lwfound.org .

And then?

She'll retire after the summer Olympics. Then, she and her husband hope to start a family.

Guilty pleasures

Chocolate chip cookies — actually, anything chocolate.