KIMIKO
HIRAI SOLDATI
OFFICIAL SITE
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OFFICIAL SITE |
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Kimiko Soldati –Diving
I recently had the opportunity to interview Kimiko Soldati, the U.S. National Champion and 2004 Olympian in the three-meter dive event. She has to be the most well rounded person I’ve ever met; not only is she the best diver in the U.S., Kimiko was also the valedictorian of her graduating class in college, appears in numerous spreads of prominent fashion magazines, and is very devoted to her faith.
Kimiko has overcome many obstacles in order to realize her dream of becoming an Olympian. In addition to the numerous injuries that have affected her training and ability to compete, her mother passed away before her senior year in high school. Yet, Kimiko has been able to overcome these obstacles through her relationship with God.
Kimiko Soldati’s life is an amazing success story about a person who was able to realize her dream through dedication, commitment, passion, and faith. To learn more about Kimiko and her Olympic story, you may visit her website at http://www.kimiko-usa.com/.
Have you completed college or an advance degree? If so, where did you attend school and what was your major? I graduated from the Indiana University in 1997 with a degree in kinesiology. In 2000, I finished my master’s degree in athletic administration and sports management that was also from Indiana. (Kimiko had a cumulative GPA of 4.0 in both her undergraduate and graduate programs. She was valedictorian of her graduating class.)
Did you participate in your sport in college? Yes, I started my diving career at Colorado State University, and then I transferred to Indiana University to work with the coach there. (Kimiko was an NCAA Champion in the 1-meter dive in 1996 and led IU to three NCAA Team Championships).
How did you balance college and training for your sport? It was tough. I had to be really good with time management. I think it was my personality. When I want to do something, I do it all the way. Whether it was diving or my academics, I wanted to be the best at everything I did.
How long do you plan to continue participating in your sport? I don’t know the answer to that right now. It all depends on what the doctors say. I’ve had four shoulder surgeries. But I like competing, so I just have to see what the doctors say.
If you no longer plan to compete, do you have any plans for your retirement? Right now, I’m doing some public and motivational speaking. I’ve been really busy since the Olympics ended; I’ll be going out of town this weekend for some speaking engagements. I’d love to do some coaching with my husband. He used to run an age group program in Indiana before we moved down to Texas.
Do you feel that the experience of being Olympic athlete helps in professional life? Absolutely. The attributes that got me to the Olympics are the same attributes that lead to success in life. Passion, dedication, commitment, and faith. Being an Olympian has taught me how to set goals and work toward goals.
Do you have sponsors? Yeah, right now my sponsors are Speedo and Power Bar.
How did you go about finding them? I was in negotiation with a couple of companies, and then I found an agent. He helped to finish up the deal with Speedo. I think it is easier to get sponsorships if you focus on your sport. If you consistently perform at the top level, it makes you more attractive to companies who are looking for athletes to endorse their products.
Do you have any advice for other athletes on how to support him/herself while they train or how to obtain a sponsorship? It’s all about what you can provide for the company. I also do a lot of volunteer work. I am very active with the American Cancer society because my mom died from breast cancer. We have the “Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk” coming up on October 23. I am in charge of organizing a team, and we raise money to support this cause because I’m very passionate about it. I think that doing charity work is important—it shows that you are a well-rounded person and care about issues outside yourself. As far as endorsements go, it is a tough world out there—especially in the smaller sports. If you are an athlete in a smaller sport, you need to be creative and understand that you’re in the sport because you love the sport, not because you want to make money.
What do you think is the biggest the difference between being just a great athlete and being an Olympian? A lot of times it comes down to how much work you put in. I think you also have to have a strong foundation in the basics of the sport, which is what you develop from your coaches at an early age. Most importantly, I think you have to have faith in yourself and your abilities—a belief that you will succeed. My faith in God is what pulls me through; I trust in his plan for me. I truly did not have a doubt in my mind that I would make the Olympic Team.
At what point did you want to become an Olympic athlete? It was my dream ever since I can remember. I really wanted to be a gymnast, but I got injured. My freshman year in high school, I blew out my knee at a competition. My dad suggested that I give diving a try based on my body type.
Did you have any obstacles or setbacks, and how did you overcome them? Any champion has serious obstacles, but true champions are the ones who can turn obstacles into success. I’ve had numerous injuries and some emotional problems. My faith has been huge—it is the biggest thing in my life. When I didn’t have my faith, my identity was wrapped up in my diving. My faith allows me to put things into perspective—diving is something I do, but not who I am. My faith has helped me to find peace in my life.
Do you have any hobbies or unique interests? I love to eat, and obviously working out. We recently built a bigger house and made the kitchen larger so I can do more baking and cooking.
Anything else other athletes might be interested in or you would like to tell them? I would say that it is important that young athletes need to be coachable to reach the top level. It is important that you listen to your coaches and what they have to say, as well as trusting the suggestions and changes they want you to make. |
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