Broken hand is a minor setback for Chris Colwill

Former Georgia diver and Olympian Chris Colwill overcame a broken hand suffered less than a year ago to beat some stiff competition and win the finals of the men's 3-meter springboard in the USA Diving Winter National Championships Monday.

"I knew I could make a comeback," he said excitedly after the event at the University of Tennessee's Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. "I've been struggling all of the last year, and now I feel like I'm at the point I need to be."

Colwill, who barely missed winning an Olympic medal in 2008 in the synchronized 3-meter with former UT standout Jevon Tarantino, is used to dealing with adversity, as he is also hearing impaired.

Someone who could relate to his situation is 9-year-old Noah Ward, who is also hearing impaired and has just started in the Tennessee Diving junior program. He had heard about Colwill's story and was introduced to him Monday night.

"He was very excited," said Ward's mother, Melissa, as her son enthusiastically chatted with Colwill after the event. "He asked 1,001 questions and he said he was a great inspiration."

Colwill, in turn, was honored to meet the youngster. "Looking at him and thinking about when I was a kid, just having a role model, somebody to look up to, you never forget that," he said.

An uplifting story took place in the competition itself. Colwill's score over 15 dives dating to the quarterfinals was 1,516.75 points, just .20 ahead of runnerup Kristian Ipsen, 19, of California and just over 10 points ahead of Drew Livingston of Texas.

Finishing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the event that featured several single-dive scores of close to 100 and above were three former Olympians — Troy Dumais, Justin Dumais and Thomas Finchum.

"There was some amazing diving going on," said UT diving coach Dave Parrington. "It was really fun to be a part of it."

UT's Ryan Helms (1,248.55) finished 10th, while former Vol Michael Wright (1,233.85) came in 12th. Despite some struggles at various times Monday, both were able to qualify for the Olympic Trials.

"It feels great," said the senior Helms. "This will be the first time I dove in the Olympic Trials. That was the goal coming into the meet and it's been accomplished."

Added Wright, "It's awesome. It's a brand new experience, but it's exciting. I can't wait."

Also, Indiana divers Amy Cozad and Laura Ryan won the women's platform synchronized.