O'Brien decides it's time to get out of the pool
By Sharon Robb, Sun-Sentinel Sports Columnist
July 10, 2005

A changing of the guard in U.S. diving went virtually unnoticed two weeks ago.

Instead of its "old school" way of thinking that once had the United States on top of the medal heap at the Summer Olympics, a more "youthful approach" has been put in motion to help the sport regain its supremacy.

The sport's biggest loss in the transition is eight-time Olympic coach Ron O'Brien. At 67, with little fanfare, the Hall of Fame diver and coach retired on July 1 as USA Diving's national performance director.

O'Brien, who put diving on the map in South Florida with the now-defunct Mission Bay Aquatic Training facility in west Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale Diving Team and Islamorada, has moved to Sebring with his wife Mary Jane.

O'Brien said it was time for the sport to find a younger leader who can better relate to coaches. He wanted to relax, enjoy his grandchildren and work on his golf game instead of traveling more than 100 days a year.

His last official duty was the USA Diving national training camp that selected divers for the July 17-31 FINA World Aquatic Championships in Montreal.

Olympic Heights grad Jevon Tarantino of Coral Springs Diving was selected for his first world team.

O'Brien is best known for coaching Greg Louganis, a double Olympic gold medalist at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. It was Louganis and O'Brien that the Chinese used as prototypes to build the world's greatest diving power. O'Brien divers won more than 350 medals in national and international meets.

"He was the best coach in the world," said USA Diving president Dave Burgering. "He has sacrificed a lot of time and effort for our sport."

Before leaving, O'Brien instituted a major change in the way U.S. diving teams are selected for major meets. Much like gymnastics, divers for world and Olympic teams will not be chosen off one trials. Athletes will be selected by a committee from cumulative results and training camps.

At the 2004 trials, Brittany Viola and Thomas Finchum, two of the sport's brightest young stars, were left off the team because the U.S. diving selection process chose to focus on synchronized diving where medal hopes were high. The more flexible plan will now award most consistent divers and young Olympic hopefuls.

A Little Hoopla

Former Benjamin standout Erlana Larkins of Riviera Beach was one of three players voted team captain of the women's under-19 world basketball championship team.

Larkins is training with her U.S. teammates in Hungary today and arrives in Tunisia on Tuesday for the July 15-24 FIBA World Championships. The U.S. opens against Russia on Friday. Larkins said she was thrilled being voted by her teammates.

"This means a lot to know that your peers feel you are capable of leading a team full of college girls," she said. "I'm honored. You not only have to bring leadership and enthusiasm to practice every day, but be supportive when people aren't feeling so well. It's not just about on the court as far in the game and how well you feel, but more so being a leader."

Last season as a freshman at North Carolina she scored a Tar Heel freshman record 496 points (14.6 ppg). ...

Former Cardinal Gibbons standout Mark Van Zwieten of Pompano Beach is competing in today's USA Junior Olympic Boys Volleyball Championships in Louisville, Ky.

Let The Games Begin

The July 23-24 Tropical Games of the Palm Beaches at the South Florida Fairgrounds are taking registrations. The multi-sports festival is for promising athletes competing at state, region, national and international levels. The 10 sports on the program are boxing, chess, fencing, judo, karate, powerlifting, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling. Cost for spectators is $5 per day, 12-and-under are free. For further information call 561-233-3123 or go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

Roll With It

The Pan American Confederation of Roller Sports awarded Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City the Oct. 13-16 VI Pan American Club Championships.

The event will attract 700 men and women skaters, ages 7-34 in seven different categories from several countries including Cuba, Canada, Jamaica and the United States. The federation is inviting clubs, national teams and pros sponsored by the Organization of the American Continent.

For information go to www.teampines.com in English, www.fedepatin.com.co in Spanish or call 954-336-5090.