Olympic disappointment for Hoosier divers
Anne Marie Tiernon/Eyewitness News
Beijing - More Hoosier athletes in action Monday night in Beijing.
Two divers took to the platform and took a shot at bringing home a medal.
Thrilling day for the men's gymnastics team getting the bronze medal and not expected to be on the podium without the help of the Hamm brothers.
Not the case for our hoosier divers David Boudia and Thomas Finchum who were expected to medal and did not.
Hopes were high and gratitude was overflowing from Audrey Finchum, mother of Hoosier diver. "Everybody pooled their fund to help us get here and we are just so thankful, it really means a lot, thank you."
The Boudia and Finchum families arrived at the Water Cube, the diving venue, to see Noblesville's David Boudia and Indianapolis' Thomas Finchum compete in the synchronized ten meter platform.
But the families also shared a concern: "I want him to do the best he can do so that he is happy with his performance," said Audrey.
After a series of dives and a fifth-place finish, that concern was realized.
"I am definitely a little disappointed - that wasn't our best performance and I know that we were both capable of performing and going out there and winning a medal and we were so close with the sub-par competition so I mean it gives you hope for the future but it is still disappointing for right now," said Thomas Fincum.
But the practices had gone well, they felt calm and confident, but to be interviewing instead of on the podium when the Chinese got gold was not what they wanted.
"I don't know how Thomas did I wasn't watching replays or anything but I felt solid on every dive and I guess I will go back and watch and see what we did do," said Boudia.
The boys have nearly a week off to re-adjust and study tape before they compete against each other in the individual event.
Mary Beth Dunnichay
Marian Dunnichay watched as her daughter Mary Beth approached the diving platform. Mary Beth is Elwood's hometown hero at just 15 years old. She is also Team USA's youngest Olympican.
"I hope she enjoys the experience and takes it all in," her mom said.
Eleven family members made it from Madison County for a whirlwind stay, and Eyewitness News was there when they saw Mary Beth for the first time since she left for the games in July.
"She looks a little bit older. I think she definitely looks like an Olympian now," said Marian Dunnichay. "It is soaking in but great to see her back with her brother and sister."
Teenagers Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin lived up to their status as favorites, winning the women's 10-meter synchronized platform title Tuesday and making the home team 3-for-3 in Olympic diving.
Chen and Wang totaled 363.54 points in an event China has won since it was introduced at the 2000 Sydney Games.
"They were amazing as always," Mary Beth Dunnichay said.
Australia's Briony Cole and Melissa Wu took the silver at 335.16, while Mexico's Paola Espinosa and Tatiana Ortiz earned the bronze at 330.06.
Dunnichay and her partner Haley Ishimatsu were fifth among eight teams at 309.12.
"We really want to have fun and soak it all in and just dive our best list we ever have and hopefully not let us down and bring home a medal and everything but however it goes we just want to have fun and do our best list," said Mary Beth before the competition.
"I hope she dives well as long as she is happy with her performance whether she bring a medal home or not as long as she is happy we support her. She is top eight in the world and at 15 that is pretty good," said Marian Dunnichay.
In women's gymnastics, the decision is out today - Bridget Sloan will compete for the USA team in the vault and in the team competition Wednesday. Sam Peszek is out.
Source: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8827069
Anne Marie Tiernon/Eyewitness News
Beijing - More Hoosier athletes in action Monday night in Beijing.
Two divers took to the platform and took a shot at bringing home a medal.
Thrilling day for the men's gymnastics team getting the bronze medal and not expected to be on the podium without the help of the Hamm brothers.
Not the case for our hoosier divers David Boudia and Thomas Finchum who were expected to medal and did not.
Hopes were high and gratitude was overflowing from Audrey Finchum, mother of Hoosier diver. "Everybody pooled their fund to help us get here and we are just so thankful, it really means a lot, thank you."
The Boudia and Finchum families arrived at the Water Cube, the diving venue, to see Noblesville's David Boudia and Indianapolis' Thomas Finchum compete in the synchronized ten meter platform.
But the families also shared a concern: "I want him to do the best he can do so that he is happy with his performance," said Audrey.
After a series of dives and a fifth-place finish, that concern was realized.
"I am definitely a little disappointed - that wasn't our best performance and I know that we were both capable of performing and going out there and winning a medal and we were so close with the sub-par competition so I mean it gives you hope for the future but it is still disappointing for right now," said Thomas Fincum.
But the practices had gone well, they felt calm and confident, but to be interviewing instead of on the podium when the Chinese got gold was not what they wanted.
"I don't know how Thomas did I wasn't watching replays or anything but I felt solid on every dive and I guess I will go back and watch and see what we did do," said Boudia.
The boys have nearly a week off to re-adjust and study tape before they compete against each other in the individual event.
Mary Beth Dunnichay
Marian Dunnichay watched as her daughter Mary Beth approached the diving platform. Mary Beth is Elwood's hometown hero at just 15 years old. She is also Team USA's youngest Olympican.
"I hope she enjoys the experience and takes it all in," her mom said.
Eleven family members made it from Madison County for a whirlwind stay, and Eyewitness News was there when they saw Mary Beth for the first time since she left for the games in July.
"She looks a little bit older. I think she definitely looks like an Olympian now," said Marian Dunnichay. "It is soaking in but great to see her back with her brother and sister."
Teenagers Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin lived up to their status as favorites, winning the women's 10-meter synchronized platform title Tuesday and making the home team 3-for-3 in Olympic diving.
Chen and Wang totaled 363.54 points in an event China has won since it was introduced at the 2000 Sydney Games.
"They were amazing as always," Mary Beth Dunnichay said.
Australia's Briony Cole and Melissa Wu took the silver at 335.16, while Mexico's Paola Espinosa and Tatiana Ortiz earned the bronze at 330.06.
Dunnichay and her partner Haley Ishimatsu were fifth among eight teams at 309.12.
"We really want to have fun and soak it all in and just dive our best list we ever have and hopefully not let us down and bring home a medal and everything but however it goes we just want to have fun and do our best list," said Mary Beth before the competition.
"I hope she dives well as long as she is happy with her performance whether she bring a medal home or not as long as she is happy we support her. She is top eight in the world and at 15 that is pretty good," said Marian Dunnichay.
In women's gymnastics, the decision is out today - Bridget Sloan will compete for the USA team in the vault and in the team competition Wednesday. Sam Peszek is out.
Source: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8827069
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