Jan. 31, 2007
IOWA CITY, IA – Former University of Iowa diver Nancilea Underwood-Foster and current Hawkeye diving coach Bob Rydze will represent the United States at the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. The diving competition will be held March 19-26. Underwood-Foster will compete in the three-meter event and Rydze will serve as U.S. team leader.
This is the first of two meets in which divers from the United States can qualify for a spot the 2008 Olympic team. A native of Spring, TX, Underwood-Foster is the only five-time all-American in Iowa women’s swimming and diving history. She set the school and Fieldhouse Pool three-meter records, and the school one-meter championship record. She was also a 2006 academic all-America district second team honoree and a three-time academic all-Big Ten selection.
Rydze, who is in his 32nd year at Iowa, was named chairman of U.S. Diving’s Competition Committee for Excellence (CCE) – the most powerful committee in the organization – in August. As chairman of the five-member committee, Rydze oversees all domestic and international diving competitions, and sets selection procedures for all international trips and U.S. Olympic trials. He also serves as Vice President of U.S. Diving and joined its Board of Directors.
Fans can follow the action online via the World Championships Sports Network website at www.wcsn.com/swimming.