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Feature
Getting in Sync
Mira D’Angelo
1From an early age, Briony loved being in the water. Some of her fondest memories were of swimming at her grandfather’s lake and splashing through the water with her siblings. Her mother taught all the children how to dive safely off the dock. Briony loved the feeling of jumping high into the air and slicing through the water. It made her feel like a powerful rocket soaring through the sky. She enjoyed diving so much that she started training with a coach at the community swim club. Evelyn was a world champion diver who had been an alternate on the United States Olympic team. From the moment she saw Briony dive from the springboard, she immediately recognized the young girl’s potential. Briony was so elegant; it was like watching a crane diving into the water to snatch a fish. Briony and Evelyn worked together for several years to get Briony’s diving career off to a good start.
After winning several junior competitions, Evelyn realized that Briony was talented enough to achieve the ultimate goal: making the Olympic diving team. Briony would not be eligible to compete at such a high level for years, so the coach discussed adding another event to Briony’s repertoire. Since debuting at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, the sport of synchronized diving became a sensation across the world. The sport features two divers who attempt to perform identical or mirrored dives. Evelyn explained that it was an extremely difficult sport, but she felt Briony could master it easily. Always up for a challenge, Briony agreed.
Next, they had the difficult task of selecting Briony’s diving partner. Evelyn explained that it was necessary to find someone whose physical features were nearly identical to Briony’s to ensure that both girls would go into the water at relatively the same speed. The first girl Briony tried diving with was a quarter of an inch taller. Though the difference seemed negligible, the other diver continuously entered the water before Briony. There was no way that they would be able to dive together. Briony and Evelyn spent months auditioning girls across the state, but, unfortunately, they could not find the right partner for Briony.
4Their luck started to change when Briony went to Phoenix to compete in the Southwest regionals. While Briony was warming up, Evelyn closely scrutinized the other divers. One diver stood out in the crowd. Camilla Rodriguez had the same body type and graceful movements as Briony. Evelyn was convinced that she had found a partner for Briony.
5Persuading Camilla to work with Briony was another obstacle. Though working with an experienced athlete like Briony could potentially propel Camilla’s career into the national spotlight, the young woman was not sure she wanted to work with another diver. She liked the freedom of being alone at the top of the platform. In solo diving, Camilla’s mistakes only influenced her performance; they did not reflect on another athlete. Briony assured her that they would give it their best shot.
6Evelyn and Camilla’s coach agreed to a temporary partnership that would allow Camilla to train with Briony in Texas for the summer. The two girls rehearsed their first dive, a one-and-a-half pike, individually for weeks before attempting a coordinated dive. Evelyn watched from the stands, noticing only minor problems here and there. Camilla hinged forward a little too much before entering the water, creating a larger splash. Evelyn worked with her on body position to eliminate the problem. Briony was too aggressive on her jumps, so Evelyn asked her to pull back.
7The coach decided that the partners were finally ready for their first synchronized dive. Evelyn watched as the girls climbed the platform. After reaching the edge of the board, the girls seemed to experience a breakdown in communication. Briony left the platform a split second before Camilla, causing them to enter the water separately.
8Camilla and Briony could not agree on who would assume control once they reached the top of the platform. Briony had tried to cue them, but Camilla had missed it. The girls were irritating each other and Evelyn knew it was crucial that they put their egos aside in order to work together. Instead of reprimanding them, she encouraged the girls to take turns cueing the dive. The strategy worked: their next several dives were nearly flawless. From the side, it looked as if only one girl was diving instead of two.
The girls spent countless hours at the aquatics center each day refining their routine. Before long, they had formed a strong bond both in and out of the pool. They discovered that they had similar tastes in fashion, movies, and music. Both also dreamed about competing at the Olympics one day. Briony and Camilla found that being friends outside of diving helped make them a formidable pair.
10After rehearsing all summer, the duo debuted their routine that fall. They excitedly watched several teams perform before the officials summoned them. At the top of the board, Briony smiled at Camilla as they walked in perfect unison toward the edge. Camilla counted backwards from one and the girls launched themselves into the water. When they surfaced, the divers turned their gazes to the scoreboard. After seeing the judges’ scores, Briony was confident that their dreams of becoming Olympic athletes were tangible.Although Briony and Camilla were from different parts of the country, they learned lessons from each other. Which statement BEST summarizes the lessons they learned?
Responses
A Camilla learned she could get back at Briony by messing-up when they dived together.Camilla learned she could get back at Briony by messing-up when they dived together.
B Briony and Camilla learned that they did not have to like each other to work as a team.Briony and Camilla learned that they did not have to like each other to work as a team.
C Camilla and Briony both learned to set aside their egos and work together for a common goal.Camilla and Briony both learned to set aside their egos and work together for a common goal.
D Briony learned that she could go to the Olympics early if she manipulated less accomplished divers.Briony learned that she could go to the Olympics early if she manipulated less accomplished divers.