Pichler Qualifies, Reveals ‘Sheer Hell’

David Pichler always thought his toughest test would be trying to qualify for the Olympics.

He never imagined his life leading to the trials at Indianapolis would be rife with what he called harassment, intimidation, assault and “sheer hell,” and that the diving would be the easy part.

Less than an hour after becoming the final diver selected Sunday for the Atlanta Games, Pichler embraced his teammates under a giant American flag in a picture of harmony before proceeding to turn the trials upside down.

Pichler, who qualified with Patrick Jeffrey in the 10-meter platform event, went public with a situation that has been brewing since September, when he left Coach Ron O’Brien’s rigorous training program in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“Since that time I have been harassed, I have been assaulted, I have been pushed, my family has been harassed and I’ve gone through constant problems from Ron O’Brien and his family,” Pichler said.

“It’s been sheer hell on a regular basis. It’s just something that I wish no athlete would ever have to go through.”

Pichler’s outpouring was prompted by a reporter’s question about his feelings in making the team. As the story unfolded, Jeffrey sat silent next to Pichler.

O’Brien would not comment on the circumstances of Pichler leaving his program. His son, Tim, who is assistant coach of his father’s Fort Lauderdale team, would say only that Pichler was dismissed because of “disruptive type of behavior.”

Pichler said he had had to leave because the situation was affecting the program’s other divers.

“I feel that I have not done anything to affect Dave Pichler in any way,” Ron O’Brien said. “I haven’t really been around him since February except at competitions, so I’m not really sure what he’s alluding to.”

Before the controversy, the men’s 10-meter final concluded with Jeffrey, who turns 31 on Monday, making the team eight years after finishing 12th in platform at the Seoul Olympics. He won the trials with 1,147.71 points.

Pichler was second with 1,140.48 points, holding off 16-year-old Troy Dumais of Ventura, who wound up third.

Pichler filed a complaint against O’Brien with U.S. Diving. Steve McFarland, president of the governing body, investigated the allegations and a report was presented to U.S. Diving’s 21-member board of directors about a week ago.

“As a result, the board has voted to take no action against coach Ron O’Brien,” U.S. Diving spokesman David Shatkowski said.

BASEBALL: Team USA Powers Past Japan, 9-3

Team USA continued its power surge, hitting four home runs in a 9-3 victory over the Japan All-Stars at Durham, N.C., the team’s 35th consecutive victory.

The Americans are averaging 2.1 homers in 13 victories this summer.

Troy Glaus, a sophomore from UCLA, and Travis Lee, a junior from San Diego State, each hit two-run homers to deep center. Jason Williams and Warren Morris, both of LSU, had solo shots.

EQUESTRIAN: Former Olympians Back on the Team

Leslie Burr Howard, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, made the U.S. equestrian team for the Atlanta Games. Howard joined two other past Olympians, Michael Matz and Anne Kursinski. Also on the show jumping team is Peter Leone of Greenwich, Conn.