Rider University graduate Amanda Burke, Class of 2010, is one of the top divers in the United States. In February of 2013 Burke was selected to the Olympic Performance Squad for 2013.
Amanda commented at the time, “I almost cried when I found out. It says they expect me to be a contender for the next Olympics. They select divers who they expect to be the best in the country over the next few years, leading up to the 2016 Olympics,” Burke said. “I had to sign a contract saying I would stick with it for the next four years, since the USOC will be supporting me through this process. I’ll be competing in national and international meets.”
Amanda is currently the assistant diving coach of George Mason University and a coach for the Mason Dive Academy, a junior Olympic program, as well as a Certified Personal Trainer at Lifetime Fitness in Fairfax.
Last June, Sport and Spine Rehab blogged about Amanda’s preparation for the Olympic Trials in Seattle and it
was noted that she had been assisted in her conditioning efforts by Dr. Martin Donnelly, Dr. Barton Bishop and
Dr. Jung Park (Choi).
Since that time Amanda qualified for the 15th FINA World Championships by placing first in the three meter Synchronized Springboard at the USA Diving FINA World Championship Trials in Tallahassee, Fla. In May and shortly after that, in Fort Lauderdale for the AT&T Grand Prix meet. Burke did well at the Grand Prix and was the only female springboard diver from the US to make the finals and finish at the top of this international field where she finished fifth out of 22 athletes in her event. The competition represented 20 different countries from around the world.
In July, in Barcelona, Spain Amanda and her partner Samantha Pickens finished seventh in the women’s synchronized 3-meter dive final at the FINA World Aquatic Championships.
If you would like to support Amanda’s efforts to get to the 2016 Rio Olympics, here is a way you can help.
In fact Amanda will soon be relocating to State College, Pa. to focus on her training the next couple of years.
Follow Amanda on Twitter @Amanda_Burke12.