David Boudia Considering Gymnastics for Rio 2016, May Drop Platform Diving

PHOENIX, Arizona, August 27. DAVID Boudia wants to return to his gymnastics roots and participate in the vaulting exercise at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro while still competing as a diver, he told reporters recently.

Boudia, who won the gold medal in a close competition in the individual platform diving event in London, told reporters during a media session at his home pool at Purdue University that the spark to consider gymnastics came from watching American McKayla Moroney at the Olympics, noting that “she'd be an incredible diver.” Boudia participated in gymnastics before becoming a renowned diver (though not at the Olympic level), and while he said it's “an outside shot” for him to compete in gymnastics in 2016, he will take these next four months during his time off to consider all options.

Boudia also said he's not giving up diving, though he said he might not compete on platform, saying winning a gold medal was “a beautiful ending to that 10-meter career.” He did indicate that he'll definitely continue with the synchro platform event with partner Nick McCrory, with whom he won a bronze medal in London. Boudia is an accomplished springboard diver, having won on the 1-meter and 3-meter at the NCAA championships and USA Diving national championships.

Scores of athletes have participated in more than one sport at an Olympic Games, with some of those even competing in two sports at the same Olympiad, so Boudia's feat is not unique in that regard. But to our knowledge, no diver has ever competed in gymnastics at the same time, or vice versa.

Video of interview, courtesy of WLFI-TV:

Boudia: Gymnastics an Olympic possibility

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