Becca Waxman
Staff Writer
Mira Costa freshman Paige Richardson reaches new heights while diving competitively. Richardson dives for Costa, along with her own club team, and has had great success.
Richardson first became interested in diving while watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After beginning individual lessons, she fell in love with the sport.
“I began diving when I lived in Boston,” Richardson said. “When my family moved to California, I joined a more intense club team here.”
Richardson dives for the Trojan Dive Club along with 23 other male and female divers. Her team is both a synchronized and individual diving squad. She trains at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center for three hours a day, every day.
“I have a diving team that I see every day for practice,” Richardson said. “They are like a family to me.”
Richardson’s coach, Hongping Li, is a two-time Olympian for the Chinese National Team and National Collegiate Athletics Association champion for diving. Besides coaching the youth club team, he is also the head coach of the USC mens’ and womens’ diving team.
“Paige is a really gifted athlete,” Li said. “Her power and her graceful body line are both ideal for the sport. It’s no surprise to see Paige excel.”
Richardson has qualified for Nationals three times. Her successes continued at this level.
“You had to get top six at zones, which is a meet with many states involved,” Richardson said. “I got fourth so I qualified, and we got medals for Nationals.”
Richardson scored a 421.5 at Nationals, which featured some of her favorite dives.
“My favorite dives are back one and a half on one meter and back two and a half on three meter [board]. I also like to do all kinds of twisting dives.”
Richardson hopes to make the Olympics one day diving off a 32- foot platform.
“Diving off of a 32-foot platform is what I love to do,” Richardson said. ”I hope to make the Olympics one day. I am excited to see what the future will hold.”
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