U.S. Outdoor Diving Championships : Healthy Neyer Wins 1-Meter Competition

One happy Megan Neyer and one frightening moment were most conspicuous during Friday’s Phillips 66/U.S. Outdoor Diving Championships at Irvine’s Heritage Park.

Neyer, diving without pain for one of the few times in her career, won the women’s 1-meter championship with a score of 481.74 points, easily finishing ahead of second-place finisher Kim Fuggett (448.29).

Shoulder injuries have plagued Neyer for the last seven years--the pain and frustration caused a withdrawal from all competition in 1985 and a mini-retirement last January.

But Neyer, who had surgery on her left shoulder last September, said she is diving virtually pain-free these days.

“This is a miracle,” she said. “To be pain-free, it’s wonderful.”

Less fortunate was Todd Muzlet, who hit his head on the board as he attempted a reverse 2 1/2 pike during the ninth round of the men’s 3-meter semifinals.

Muzlet, 24, sustained about a two-inch cut on the back of his head. He was taken from the water on a hard spineboard, a precautionary measure in the case of neck or spinal injuries. But Muzlet remained conscious and was able to move his arms and legs while lying at poolside.

Irvine paramedics took him to Tustin’s Healthcare Medical Center, where, according to Julian Krug, Muzlet’s coach, he received stitches for the cut. Muzlet was later released.

Krug, said Muzlet ran into problems because, “he didn’t fly out and reach, and he was sitting back during his takeoff.”

Krug, who coached Muzlet when Muzlet competed for the University of Pittsburgh, said Muzlet has been having difficulty with the reverse 2 1/2 pike. He attributed some of that to the fact that Muzlet, who lives in Bethlehem, Pa., has been, “training on his own about 98% of the time.”

Mark Bradshaw (650.28) placed first in the 3-meter semifinals, edging Greg Louganis (648.86) in the 11th and final round by performing a reverse 1 1/2 somersault with 3 1/2 twists.

Bradshaw won the 1-meter event during April’s indoor championships at Brown Deer, Wis., Louganis finished second.

“Mark did an excellent job,” Louganis said. “I always saw him as someone who might overcome me. He’s been doing well for a long time, he’s no overnight success story.”

Bradshaw seemed less than thrilled with Friday’s result, saying only, “Things seem to be falling in place, lately.”

He knows that for all his good work, he’ll have to face Louganis again in today’s final with all previous scores wiped out.

Neyer was close to giddy after her victory. She has won the past three 1-meter outdoor championships, and five of the last eight.

She seemed most pleased about competing without pain these days, and the relative ease by which she now approaches her craft.

“Without pain, I’m a lot more aggressive, a lot more assertive,” she said. “And these days, whatever happens in the pool, I leave in the pool.”

Neyer said she is much happier than in 1982 when she was the world 3-meter springboard champion.

“I used to be diving 24 hours a day in my mind,” she said.

She’ll have some more on her mind today. Neyer was the top-qualifier for today’s 3-meter final.

Diving Notes

Greg Louganis, asked what he thought about a proposed plan by the U.S. Olympic Committee to expand its direct-cash payments program to athletes training for the Olympics, said: “I think it’s great, but it’s a little late for me.” Louganis recalled that 10 years ago he had to hold down three part-time jobs (“two clothing stores and a recreation center”) to make ends meet.