Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1968-08-23) August 23, 1968 (age 55)
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Sport
SportDiving

Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse (born August 23, 1968) is an American diver.[1] She competed in the women's 3 metre springboard event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[2] She has been described as "the greatest diver, male or female, to ever come through Michigan State".[3]

Biography

Farrell-Ovenhouse was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1968,[1] and grew up in Brighton, Michigan.[4] She competed for Michigan State University, becoming a six-time All-American champion,[3] along with ten Big Ten Conference titles.[1][3] At the Big Ten meet, she became the champion in the 1-metre springboard and the 3-metre springboard events in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[1] She replicated the feat, by becoming the 1-metre and 3-metre NCAA champion in 1990 and 1991 respectively.[1][3] In 1990, Farrell-Ovenhouse was named the NCAA Diver of the Year and the Michigan State Sportswoman of the Year.[1] The following year, she was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year.[1][3]

Farrell-Ovenhouse had been a member of the United States national team since 1989.[4] Her performances at the 1992 National Championships earned her a place on the US Olympic team.[3] At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, she competed in the women's 3 metre springboard event,[5] finishing in fifth place.[6] After missing out on a medal, Farrell-Ovenhouse said that she "went for it in the end" and that she "would have regretted if I didn't go hard".[7]

Following the Olympics, Farrell-Ovenhouse was inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame,[8] and the Michigan State Sports Hall of Fame.[1][9] She also went on to speak at board meetings at Michigan State University regarding budget cuts in their swimming and diving programs.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Julie Ovenhouse". Olympedia. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Julie Ovenhouse". Olympedia. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "A Look At Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Ovenhouse Goes for It, and Misses : Diving: With a chance for a medal, she refuses to play it safe, then makes a big splash. Gao Min wins gold". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Farrell-Ovenhouse leads Olympic diving". UPI. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "Springboard, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  7. ^ "American divers come up dry". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse". The Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "Michigan State Diver, Olympian Farrell-Ovenhouse Speaks To Trustees Over Cuts". SwimSwam. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  11. ^ "Former MSU diver, Olympic athlete to speak during Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday". The State News. Retrieved February 14, 2022.

External links

Big Ten Athlete of the Year winners
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