Twenty-four years of competitive diving has given Troy Dumais not only a massive fan base, but also a very extensive trophy collection. He is a 35-time U.S. national champion at the junior and senior level in springboard and platform diving. But at age 32, he wants more.
Troy Dumais is set to compete in his fourth Olympic Games, which is a record for an American diver. His solid international career includes five World Championship medals and six Pan American Games medals. But during the past three Olympics, Dumais has finished 6th on the springboard all three times and took 4th in a synchronized springboard competition.
Having yet to win an Olympic medal has kept Dumais focused and motivated to continue. His teammates call him "Grandpa."
“Winning that first Olympic medal would be a dream come true," said Dumais. "It’s something that I’ve missed out on, but know I am very capable of doing. But it keeps the fire burning because it’s always been right at my fingertips.”
Dumais grew up in California in a family of swimmers and divers, and has the spirit of an Olympian. He trains and lives in Austin, Texas, and says he loves the competition.
“I think it’s the love and aspiration of just wanting to be the best I can be, and when that whistle blows, you know, give it all I've got and put nothing but everything on the table. And it’s kept me inspired throughout the years to be the best and I have no regrets,” said Dumais.
Dumais trains for eight hours on most days, and says he has no particularly favorite dive.
“In past experiences and Olympics, I trained and I continued to train," he said. "If my coach told me to do one more, I’d probably do four or five more. As I’ve gotten a little older and understand that I can’t do hundreds and hundreds dives a day and be able to and do that every other day or every day. I’m actually having to train more quality versus quantity. I know how to dive. I know what I’m capable of doing, and I know how to hit my dives. The idea is stay loose, stay energized and don’t beat myself up so mentally.”
Dumais qualified for the U.S. Diving team in two events for the London Olympics - springboard and synchronized springboard. For the synchronized event, he is teaming up with a much younger diver - 19-year-old Kristian Ipsen.
“Kristian’s a phenomenal athlete," said Dumais. "When that whistles blows, as well, he knows how to compete. It doesn’t matter if he’s frustrated, or it doesn’t matter he’s not hitting his dives, he finds a way to do it. And that’s that competitive edge that he has, and it’s phenomenal.”
The years and experience Troy Dumais has gained fuels his drive to win and motivates fellow American divers to try their best to bring home the gold.
Troy Dumais is set to compete in his fourth Olympic Games, which is a record for an American diver. His solid international career includes five World Championship medals and six Pan American Games medals. But during the past three Olympics, Dumais has finished 6th on the springboard all three times and took 4th in a synchronized springboard competition.
Having yet to win an Olympic medal has kept Dumais focused and motivated to continue. His teammates call him "Grandpa."
“Winning that first Olympic medal would be a dream come true," said Dumais. "It’s something that I’ve missed out on, but know I am very capable of doing. But it keeps the fire burning because it’s always been right at my fingertips.”
Dumais grew up in California in a family of swimmers and divers, and has the spirit of an Olympian. He trains and lives in Austin, Texas, and says he loves the competition.
“I think it’s the love and aspiration of just wanting to be the best I can be, and when that whistle blows, you know, give it all I've got and put nothing but everything on the table. And it’s kept me inspired throughout the years to be the best and I have no regrets,” said Dumais.
Dumais trains for eight hours on most days, and says he has no particularly favorite dive.
“In past experiences and Olympics, I trained and I continued to train," he said. "If my coach told me to do one more, I’d probably do four or five more. As I’ve gotten a little older and understand that I can’t do hundreds and hundreds dives a day and be able to and do that every other day or every day. I’m actually having to train more quality versus quantity. I know how to dive. I know what I’m capable of doing, and I know how to hit my dives. The idea is stay loose, stay energized and don’t beat myself up so mentally.”
Dumais qualified for the U.S. Diving team in two events for the London Olympics - springboard and synchronized springboard. For the synchronized event, he is teaming up with a much younger diver - 19-year-old Kristian Ipsen.
“Kristian’s a phenomenal athlete," said Dumais. "When that whistles blows, as well, he knows how to compete. It doesn’t matter if he’s frustrated, or it doesn’t matter he’s not hitting his dives, he finds a way to do it. And that’s that competitive edge that he has, and it’s phenomenal.”
The years and experience Troy Dumais has gained fuels his drive to win and motivates fellow American divers to try their best to bring home the gold.
