Former Olympian Chen Puts Schoolwork Before Diving

Former Olympians who finish third at the NCAA Division II level are normally not visions of joy, but Xiao-Xia Chen of Cal State Northridge is an exception.

Chen, whose first name is pronounced Chow-Chow, was a diver on China’s 1984 Olympic team, but she has traded in a training regimen for one of schoolwork.

Which is precisely why a third-place finish in the 3-meter event Thursday did not seem so bad.

After 14 years of extensive training learning to perfect her skills, diving now is a secondary pursuit for the 27-year-old sophomore.

The truth be told, Chen has worked more on pronouncing a backward 1 1/2 somersault than performing one during the past year.

“I trained a lot more before,” she said. “I’m too busy with school. To study is more important now. Before, I dived all the time.”

Her commitment to earning a degree in physical education has cost her a spot on the Chinese team for 1988.

“In November, they asked me to go back for a meet to qualify,” Chen said. “But I was getting ready for final exams. So I didn’t go.”

She doubts she would have made the cut, anyway.

“I’ve been diving 14 years,” she said. “That’s enough for me. It’s good for me to learn something else.

“They have younger players who are doing great. They don’t need me now.”