Rob Siracusano, former Saluki diver, has passed up the chance to compete at the Olympic Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo., opting to continue training for the Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships to be held in August.

I turned down the invitation, Siracusano said. I didn’t want to take the time off from training to compete this year, but I probably will in 97.

The U.S. Nationals, held August 9-12, gives the All-American several chances to qualify for the Olympics, including competing in the World Cup, a pre-Olympic trial. The top two performers at the World Cup would compete in Atlanta against 87 other countries.

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That’s why I’m here (in Michigan), Siracusano said. I’m trying to make it to the Olympics, and everything is going much better than I thought.

Siracusano is preparing for the Phillips 66 Nationals with his roommate and former Olympic gold medalist Mark Lindsey, and is coached by Dick Kimball, five-time Olympian head coach.

I think it’s completely different, practicing under Coach Kimball rather than Coach Ardrey, he said. I’ve learned a lot of new techniques, and it’s very intenseespecially when I think that Kimball has coached at least one Olympian since 1960.

It’s also a real benefit to be able to train with Mark, Siracusano said. We will be competing on the 3-meter synchronized diving together.

Synchronized diving is an event that has just come into competition this year, Siracusano said.

see SIRACUSANO, page 11