Vital stats
Age: 30
Height/weight: 5-1, 112
Lives in: Magnolia, Texas
Today’s event
Women’s springboard diving is on NBC between 7 and 11 p.m.
Day job
She’s been training all year.
Olympic experience
This is her first Olympics.
Background
Her mother fought breast cancer for eight years and passed away in ’91 before Soldati’s senior year of high school. Her father is of Japanese descent and was born in an internment camp in Hunt, Idaho, in the final months of World War II. He was at the ’04 trials. Should she take gold, she would be the oldest female Olympic diving champion.
Early days
She originally wanted to be a gymnast, but she tore up her knee in high school and switched to diving. She has had four shoulder surgeries, missing her shot at several national titles.
Check it out
At kimiko-usa.com you can find examples of her sports modeling.
Did you know?
Because she wears a wrap on her left hand and wrist, Soldati switches her mother’s wedding band to her right hand when she dives. She has a cat named Pepper and a husband named, Adam, whom she married in 2000.
Post-Olympic star potential
It’s strong. She’s been on several magazine covers already, and her compelling story will draw plenty of attention. Star power: 8 out of 10.
In the booth Women’s diving broadcast team
Ted Robinson: He’s a member of the New York Mets broadcast team and anchors NBC’s tennis coverage.
Cynthia Potter: She was a member of the ’72, ’76 and ’80 U.S. Olympic diving teams. Currently coaches diving and gymnastics.
2000 medalists
Women’s springboard
Gold: Fu Mingxia, China
Silver: Guo Jingjing, China
Bronze: Doerte Lindner, Germany
