U.S. Olympic Diving Trials : Kimball Competes Today; McCormick Leading

The U.S. Olympic diving trials began at the University of Indiana Natatorium Wednesday with the women’s 3-meter springboard preliminaries, but much of the attention was on beleaguered diver Bruce Kimball, who will compete today.

Kimball, free on a $10,000 bond in connection with an Aug. 1 traffic accident, is entered in the men’s springboard competition that begins this afternoon. He also is entered in the platform competition, an event in which Kimball won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics.

Kimball is charged with five felony counts for driving under the influence and could face a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison stemming from an accident in which two teen-agers were killed and six others were injured when Kimball’s car ran into a crowd in front of a meeting place in Brandon, Fla. His arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 26, but was continued to Aug. 29 on Wednesday.

With Kelly McCormick, the 1984 Olympic women’s silver medalist in 3-meter springboard diving, taking the lead in Wednesday’s preliminaries by scoring 528.90 points, most of the divers were taking about Kimball’s presence at the trials.

McCormick leads Wendy Williams, the U.S. women’s indoor and outdoor platform champion, with 513.57 points, and Tristan Baker-Schultz, this year’s indoor and outdoor U.S. springboard champion, with 506.43 points going into tonight’s finals.

Most divers expressed sympathy for Kimball, though most said they did not want to discuss the subject.

“When you compete for an Olympic berth, you’ve got to divorce yourself from all distractions,” Baker-Schultz said. “You’re conditioned to do that as an athlete, and I can’t let Bruce’s situation spoil what I’ve been working for. Whoever keeps their head together the best is the one who will be going to Korea.”

Williams said before she competed: “Everyone is so sorry. My prayers have been with him since I heard. I wish it never happened, but we can’t let it distract us.”

In the Olympic trials, unlike most national events in the United States, scores of the divers from the preliminaries are carried over to the finals. The trials end Sunday with the top two scorers in each event qualifying for the Olympics.

“Bruce doesn’t have anything to do with me right now. I feel for him, but I’m just here to dive and make the Olympic team,” said Michele Mitchell, a 1984 Olympic silver medalist on the platform and the holder of nine national championships. Mitchell is ninth in the springboard competition.

U.S. Olympic Coach Ron O’Brien, who coaches many of the trials leading contenders, was hoping the meet would not be disrupted by any demonstration against Kimball. Public outcry, particularly in Florida where the accident occurred, has been strong against Kimball.

“That would be infringing on his rights, and that’s not fair, either,” O’Brien said. “I know emotions are running high, but I think they should take everything into consideration, and all the young athletes here, let them have their chance to make the Olympic team, whether it includes Bruce Kimball or not.”

Taking the advice of their coaches, McCormick and Williams declined to be interviewed after Wednesday’s preliminaries.

“Wendy was obviously very happy with the way she performed,” said Scott Reich, her coach in Miami. “She’s best known as a platform diver, but she’s also strong on the board. I’m elated.”

McCormick, the daughter of two-time Olympic springboard and platform gold medal winner Patty McCormick, took the lead for good on her seventh dive, a back 2 1/2 somersault with a 3.0 maximum degree of difficulty.