55: Trying to Make History Repeat Itself – Diane Maiese Creates a Springboard for Divers of Color

In this Episode

Being the first to accomplish a historical feat usually comes with fanfare and recognition. Not so for today’s guest, Diane Maiese. Almost 25 years after the fact, Diane learned that she was the first, and as of yet, the only black female to win an NCAA National Championship in Diving and be named four-time All-American. She is also the first black female to coach diving at the division one level and the first to become a FINA-certified judge from the USA. Today, she and Sara discuss:

• Her unique upbringing as a person of color, adopted into an Italian-Catholic family living in a Jewish neighborhood
• Her unconventional discovery and recruitment into the sport of diving
• The moment she was told she wouldn’t go anywhere in the sport
• Body image, eating disorders, and the challenging stigma of “being on display” as a diver
• Her Diving Into Diversity initiatives throughout the US

While it’s an honor to be acknowledged for her accomplishments, Diane admits it isn’t necessarily a celebration. What it has done is fuel her desire to change the landscape of the sport she loves and provide accessibility to diving for everyone so that she is no longer the “first” and “only.”

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