It was at 7 years old as David Boudia was watching the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games that he decided to be an Olympian. After years of training, his dream came true in 2008 when he competed at the Beijing Olympics, and then later won a Gold and Bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, and most recently another Silver and Bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games. His dream may have come true, but he’s far from done following it. With 17 National titles and four Olympic medals, David Boudia is the top 10-meter platform diver in the U.S. and one of the best in the world, in both the individual 10-meter and synchronized 10- meter events.
Boudia began his diving career at age 11 in 2000. He has stated that “a dive from the great height of an Olympic 10-meter platform once petrified him,” but he forced himself to overcome this fear to pursue the sport he loved. By 2005 he was a member of the U.S. National Diving Team. That year he won the Speedo National Diving Championships synchronized platform at 16. He left public school after 10th grade and was homeschooled in order to focus on diving. He began to compete all over the world as he had an eye on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
From 2006-2008 David and his diving partner, Thomas Finchum, medaled in 14 international meets (10 consecutive), including Gold medals at the 2007 Pan American Games and USA Diving Prix, Bronze at the 2007 World Championship, and Silver at 2009 World Championship. A year later Boudia was named to the 2008 Olympic Team, finishing 10th individual in the 10m platform, and 5th with Finchum in the synchronized 10m.
David also competed at Purdue University where he broke several records, won numerous titles, and received many elite honors. He finished his college career with six NCAA national titles.
David officially turned pro in April 2011, forgoing his final year of college eligibility to focus on the 2012 Olympics, but he continued to train with college coach Adam Soldati at Purdue.
Boudia won two medals at the 2012 Olympics in London, including a thrilling final-round performance in the individual 10m platform that won him the Gold medal, the first since 2000 for the U.S. He also won Bronze with partner Nick McCrory in the synchronized 10m platform, becoming the first American duo to medal in the event, and the first Olympic medal for the U.S. in men’s diving since the 1996 Games in Atlanta- the Olympic Games that first captured David’s eye.
David went on to win the Silver medal in the 10 meter synchro at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with his new partner, Steele Johnson, and brought home the Bronze on the individual 10 meter platform.
David became a devout Christian in 2010 through the influence of his college coach. David openly references his religious beliefs and his strong faith plays a very big part in his life. In October 2012 he married his college sweetheart, Sonnie Brand, and completed his degree at Purdue in December 2013. David and his wife had their first child, Dakoda Boudia, in September of 2014.
