Tuesday, August 1, 2006 · Last updated 3:32 p.m. PT
Wilkinson to sit out of diving nationals
INDIANAPOLIS -- Olympic gold medalist Laura Wilkinson won't compete in the U.S. National Championships this week to rest a nagging back injury.
The 28-year old fought through tightness in her lower back on her way to a fourth-place finish in the 10-meter platform at the World Cup last month, but won't risk further damage this week.
Instead, she's saving herself for one last run at the Olympics. She wants to end her career in Beijing in 2008, and needs to be at full strength for next March's World Championships to get in position.
"I think in my old age, I've gotten a little smarter on injuries and when to push through it and when not to," she said. "Just the chance that I could be out a couple of months is something I didn't want to take."
Wilkinson, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2005 world champion in the 10-meter, has also fought through arthritic pain in her right wrist since early in 2004 from years of pounding from the platform. She had surgery on it in January 2005 and is scheduled to have another surgery on August 7.
She still made the trip to Indianapolis to cheer for the other divers, especially those in the 10-meter.
"It's really hard for me," she said. "I haven't had many meets where I've had to do this. I love competition, but just to be here and supporting my team, that's special too. Hopefully, it will give someone else an opportunity to come out on top and really show who they are."
Though she didn't keep her title at the World Cup, it wasn't because her skills have diminished. She set a personal best score in the semifinals, but couldn't duplicate it in the finals. She tried three new dives at the World Cup, and is happy to still be improving.
"I'm actually really excited," she said. "I didn't think I'd still be diving at almost 30 years old, and to be learning new dives ... I'm stronger than I've ever been. To be increasing my level of difficulty at this stage is not what I expected, but it's a pleasant surprise."
The aftermath of the World Cup helped her decide to sit out the Indianapolis event.
"After two weeks of training on it and the airplane ride back, it was just really stiff last week," she said. "It's just a little too sore to push it right now. I'd rather heal it instead of push it."
Top stars who will compete in Indianapolis are World Cup silver medalists David Boudia, Kelci Bryant, Troy Dumais, Thomas Finchum, Mitch Richeson and Ariel Rittenhouse and World Cup bronze medalist Chris Colwill.
After that, the focus becomes getting ready for the 2008 Olympics. Wilkinson would like to go out with a gold medal in 2008, then stay in diving as a coach or supporter.
"I definitely want to stay involved," she said. "I love the sport too much not to. I'm not sure in what capacity it would be. I'll be around somehow."