Top divers from nearly 20 countries expected at AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix

Olympians and other top divers from nearly 20 countries are expected for the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix from May 7-9 at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex (501 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316).

Now in its 39th year, the USA Grand Prix regularly draws Olympic and world champions and other top international competitors. Approximately 50 Olympians - including Boca Raton's Jevon Tarantino and eight other members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team - are expected among the field. Top international divers expected include Olympic gold medalists Guo Jingjing, Wu Minxia, Chen Ruolin, Lin Yue, all of China. Other Olympic medalists expected include Australia's Briony Cole and Melissa Wu; Canada's Alexandre Despatie; China's Zhou Luxin; Germany's Sascha Klein; and Russia's Dmitriy Dobroskok. Great Britain sensation Thomas Daley is also planning to compete.

The following countries are planning to attend: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden and USA. Competition will be conducted in four events for both men and women: 3-meter springboard, 10-meter platform, 3-meter synchronized springboard and 10-meter synchronized platform. The Fort Lauderdale Diving Team and the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex along with USA Diving are hosting the event.

TICKETS: For ticket sales and information, call 954-828-4580. Tickets for are $5/day for students, military and seniors, and $10 for adults. Children 5 and under are free. All-session passes are available for $25 ($10 for students, military and seniors).

U.S. roster:
Women's 3-meter
*Christina Loukas (Riverwoods, Ill./Bloomington, Ind.)
Ariel Rittenhouse (Santa Cruz, Calif./Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.)
Allison Brennan (Huntington Beach, Calif./Columbia, S.C.)
Summer Allman (Lansing, Mich.)

Women's 10-meter
Brittany Viola (Orlando, Fla./Coral Gables, Fla.)
*Mary Beth Dunnichay (Elwood, Ind.)
Kristen Asman (Columbus, Ohio)
Michelle Cabassol (Montgomery, Texas)
(Note: Cabassol was selected to replace Haley Ishimatsu, who withdrew from the competition)

Men's 3-meter
*Troy Dumais (Ventura, Calif./Austin, Texas)
*Chris Colwill (Brandon, Fla./Athens, Ga.)
Jevon Tarantino (Boca Raton, Fla./Knoxville, Tenn.)
David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind./West Lafayette, Ind.)

Men's 10-meter
*David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind./West Lafayette, Ind.)
Nick McCrory (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
*Thomas Finchum (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Sean Moore (Englewood, Colo./Columbus, Ohio)

Women's 3-meter synchro
*Kelci Bryant (Chatham, Ill./Indianapolis, Ind.)/*Ariel Rittenhouse (Santa Cruz, Calif./Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.)
Christina Loukas (Riverwoods, Ill./Bloomington, Ind.)/Amanda Miller (Centreville, Va./West Lafayette, Ind.)

Men's 3-meter synchro
*Chris Colwill (Brandon, Fla./Athens, Ga.)/*Jevon Tarantino (Boca Raton, Fla./Knoxville, Tenn.)
Troy Dumais (Ventura, Calif./Austin, Texas)/Kristian Ipsen (Clayton, Calif.)

Women's 10-meter synchro
Michelle Cabassol (Montgomery, Texas)/Kaylea Arnett (Spring, Texas)
Victoria Lamp (Knoxville, Tenn.)/Amy Korthauer (Naperville, Ill./Bloomington, Ind.)

Men's 10-meter synchro
*Thomas Finchum (Indianapolis, Ind.)/*David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind./West Lafayette, Ind.)
David Colturi (Sylvania, Ohio/West Lafayette, Ind.)/Sean Moore (Englewood, Colo./Columbus, Ohio)

* denotes 2008 U.S. Olympic Team member on that event

Schedule:
May 7: 9:30 a.m. - men's 3M prelims/semis; 2 p.m. - women's 10M prelims/semis; 5:30 p.m. - men's synchronized 10M final, followed by women's synchronized 3M final
May 8: 9:30 a.m. - women's 3M prelim/semis; 1:45 p.m. - men's 10M prelims/semis; 5:30 p.m. - women's synchronized 10M final, followed by men's synchronized 3M final
May 9: 1 p.m. - women's 10M final, followed by men's 3M final, followed by women's 3M final, followed by - men's 10M final

- USA Diving -

Featuring America's best divers, USA Diving is the national governing body for the sport of diving. Headquartered in Indianapolis, USA Diving offers diversified programs geared toward the broadest number of diving enthusiasts, from the novice to the world champion. USA Diving conducts approximately 40 regional and national events annually and is responsible for training and selecting teams that represent the United States at international events such as the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup. For additional information please call Jennifer Lowery at (317) 237-5252 or visit www.usadiving.org.