Boy dives right in

DIVING: Grover's leap of faith paying off

Posted By IAN SHANTZ

Posted 8 months ago

Three years ago in Victoria, B. C., Ryan Grover discovered his love for diving.

In three weeks, the 11-year-old Barrie athlete will go back to where he was first introduced to what's become his passion.

This time around, he won't be learning about the sport, however. He'll be shooting for national stardom.

Grover will be on the island, competing at the Speedo junior national diving championship, July 9 to July 12.

He qualified for nationals by claiming gold off the one-and three-metre platform and bronze on the five-metre tower at the provincial championship, held at his home club in Etobicoke late last month.

His dives in the one-and three-metre were record-breaking.

Indeed, it's all about to come full circle.

"It's kind of interesting that we're going back to where people first said (to Ryan), 'This is something you should do,'" his dad, Scott Grover said. "It's like home to him."

It all started when the Grovers were on their annual trip to Victoria, to visit Scott's wife, Christie's, parents. Looking for an interesting way to fill up the vacation, they swung by the Commonwealth pool and put Ryan in a learn-to-dive program. While the youngster was going through some introductory drills, in came Tommy McLeod, who coaches up-and-coming Olympic diver Riley McCormick.

"Right away, he said Ryan is built like a diver and he has a lot of talent," Scott said. "He asked Ryan to do some dives for him and then he wondered if he'd be interested in joining the team (in Victoria). Mom goes, 'That's great, but we don't live in Victoria.'"

When the family returned home, Ryan, well, dove right in. He signed up in Etobicoke -- the closest diving club available -- where he's been training and competing ever since.

And the youngster has no plans to turn his back on any of it, unless it involves a summersault, inward double or front one-and-a-half manoeuvre, of course.

"This is the best sport, but that's just my opinion," said the Grade 5 student at Ferndale Woods Elementary School, adding there's no better feeling than that perfect dive. "It feels so awesome. I don't know how to describe it. It just feels so good to nail a dive."

The main goal in the sport is to hit the water perfectly, making as little splash as possible. While Ryan accomplished that at the provincial qualifier, it doesn't work out instantaneously.

"It's all mental," the slender, blonde-haired athlete said. "One dive, I really had trouble getting. Then, at one competition, I got up there and did it."

Chaulk that dive up to dedication. After all, Ryan -- who started gymnastics at 13 months old and always "climbed a lot" -- trains at the Toronto-area club from September through to July, four days a week, sometimes five. He trains out of the pool for one hour and in the pool for two hours.

"It's a family sacrifice," said Christie, who drives her son to Toronto after school, and often brings their other son, eight-year-old Austin, along. "I can spend three to four hours with my youngest, which is good, quality time."

Scott -- a former national figure skater who now runs a powerskating business -- said his son's success in diving has been wonderful to witness, but the success isn't measured by medals.

"It's the icing on top of the cake. Winning medals, that's a bonus."

Ryan will be staying in Victoria for a month after the national competition. He'll be working with McLeod, the coach who introduced him to diving.

While he doesn't know what the future holds in terms of his success on the platform, he does have his ultimate goal figured out.

"Olympics!" Ryan said. "I'm happy with NCAA," dad joked. "As long as (diving) keeps him out of trouble, and he enjoys it, that's the big thing."

- - -

About Ryan

Broke two records for his age category at the provincial championships in Etobicoke, May 29-31, winning gold off the one-metre platform and gold on the three-metre platform with record-breaking points totals of 263.50 and 263.60, respectively, while claiming bronze of the five-metre tower.

Canadian Olympic divers Alexander Despatie and Riley McCormick are a few athletes he looks up to.

Prior to diving, he was involved in gymnastics, figure skating and various other sports, including basketball. He sprained his finger in a basketball game, and won't play it again as long as he's involved in diving. Divers rely heavily on their fingers to land in the water properly.

Parents, Scott and Christie, are both former top-ranked Canadian figure skaters.