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Chat Reel: Mark Ruiz

Olympic diver to feel at home in Sydney

Mark Ruiz must overcome his fear of heights to compete on the 10-meter platform dive. Otto Greule Jr./Allsport

CNNSI.com caught up with diver Mark Ruiz on August 5, 2000. Ruiz will compete in the individual springboard and platform competitions at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, having won both events at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. In doing so, the 21-year-old became the first American diver since Louganis in 1988 to qualify in two events. Ruiz also will likely compete in the springboard and platform synchronized events, both of which make their Olympic debuts in Sydney. A transcript of Ruz's chat follows:

CNNSI Host: Welcome to our chat with Olympic diver Mark Ruiz. Thanks for joining us Mark!
Mark Ruiz: No problem, my pleasure... I am glad to be here with you guys!

From Ashley in Athens, Ga.: Do you ever worry about living up to the expectations that others may have for you when you're such an overwhelming favorite to win?
Mark Ruiz: No, not really, I know there is a lot of pressure on me but I don't worry about what people say in the media or how they are speculating. I just go out there and have fun. I don't worry about every word that is said about me.

From Patricia in West Lafayette, Ind.: Who has been your inspiration as a diver? Who has been your role model as an athlete?
Mark Ruiz: Well, a great diver, Greg Louganis has been my inspiration. All the things he did as a diver and the way he handled himself around the pool and outside the pool. And as an athlete, Michael Jordan.

From Alison Howard in Germantown: Have you ever met Greg Lougainis? Have you talked to him lately?
Mark Ruiz: Yea, I have talked to him lately and I am supposed to talk to him again before I leave for the Olympics. He is a great person to talk to and gave me great tips. A great person to talk to.

CNNSI Host: Mark, are you afraid of heights?
Mark Ruiz: Yea. I am actually very afraid of heights. It may not look like it because I dive the 10-meter, but actually I am. When I go back up there I am really afraid.

From AJ: What is the more difficult event, the platform or the springboard? And why?
Mark Ruiz: I think the springboard is definitely a lot harder for me. A lot of bouncing and you don't always get the same take off. But on the platform you don't have to worry about balancing and take off as much, especially the hurdle, you don't have to worry about that on the platform.

From Heather in Dix Hills, N.Y.: Who are the favorites to win the synchronized diving event?
Mark Ruiz: You know what? It is between us, the Chinese and the Russians, but the overwhelming favorite without a doubt would have to be the Chinese.

From AJ: What has been the darkest moment of your career?
Mark Ruiz: Well without a doubt when I got hurt in '96. I hurt my wrist, and I had to take off two months, and at that point I didn't know if I could ever dive the 10 meter again. That was a pretty scary moment. Thank God I was able to recover a little bit, slowly. And now I am able to dive 10-meter again.

From Sue in Dallas: Have you ever been to Sydney? What other sports will you try to see during the Olympics?
Mark Ruiz: Yep! This will be my fourth time...it is getting to be like a home pool already!
I will try to see softball, track and field, and basketball if I can but it will be really hard to see the other sports and I hope I have time... the time to see the other sports.

From Jeff Wilson: What has been your most interesting experience in competition?
Mark Ruiz: Interesting moments? In the Olympic trials at the three-meter. I was maybe a little tense and was going into the finals and my coach told me how to relax. Some of the people came out and said, "Hey Mark, go out there and have fun!" After that I went out and did my next four dives and went on to win the event.

From HBK: The Olympic village has always looked like a cool place to stay. Do you like meeting other athletes or are you going to stay someplace to concentrate on the meet?
Mark Ruiz: I love meeting other athletes. It will be a great experience. I have heard a lot of good things about the Olympic village. I can't wait to get there ... I am very excited!

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Mark. Thanks for being with us!
Mark Ruiz: Thank you very much! And thanks to every one out there asking the questions!

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