Cynthia Potter
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Ann Potter (born August 27, 1950 in Houston, Texas
) is a former American Olympic
diver
and diving color commentator
. She was a member of three Olympic diving teams, winning a bronze medal in the Women's 3m springboard
competition in 1976.
Potter was a member of the 1968, 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic diving teams. She was selected to the 1980 U.S. Olympic diving team, but due to the United States' boycott of the games that year
, Potter was unable to compete. In 1972, Potter placed seventh on the 3-meter springboard and 21st in the 10-meter platform partially due to a foot injury, and in 1976 Potter claimed a bronze medal in the 3-meter springboard.
In other international competition, Potter won a gold in the 3 m springboard and a silver in the 10 m platform at the 1970 World University Games, a bronze in the 3 m springboard at the 1975 Pan-American Games, and a silver in the 3 m springboard at the 1978 World Championships
.
In 1987, Potter was inducted into the International Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame.
. Potter continues to provide color commentary for NBC's Olympic diving coverage and served as an analyst for NBC Sports
coverage of Diving at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
in Atlanta
, Georgia
, and has served as a diving coach at Southern Methodist University
, and the University of Arizona
.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
) is a former American Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
diver
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
and diving color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
. She was a member of three Olympic diving teams, winning a bronze medal in the Women's 3m springboard
Springboard
A springboard or diving board is used for diving and is a board that is itself a spring, i.e. a linear flex-spring, of the cantilever type....
competition in 1976.
Diving career
An 11-time All-American, Potter won a record 28 national diving championships. Potter was the U.S. outdoor champion in the 1-meter springboard from 1968 through 1977. Potter was the 3-meter springboard in 1971 and 1972 and from 1975 through 1977; and in the platform competition in 1970 and 1971. Indoors, Potter won 1-meter springboard titles from 1969 through 1973 and in 1976 and 1977, the 3-meter in 1969, 1970, and 1973. Additionally, Potter was chosen as World Diver of the year in springboard competition in 1970, 1971 and 1972.Potter was a member of the 1968, 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic diving teams. She was selected to the 1980 U.S. Olympic diving team, but due to the United States' boycott of the games that year
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, Potter was unable to compete. In 1972, Potter placed seventh on the 3-meter springboard and 21st in the 10-meter platform partially due to a foot injury, and in 1976 Potter claimed a bronze medal in the 3-meter springboard.
In other international competition, Potter won a gold in the 3 m springboard and a silver in the 10 m platform at the 1970 World University Games, a bronze in the 3 m springboard at the 1975 Pan-American Games, and a silver in the 3 m springboard at the 1978 World Championships
1978 World Aquatics Championships
The 1978 World Aquatics Championships took place in West Berlin, West Germany between August 20 and August 28, 1978.-Medals table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men-External links:***...
.
In 1987, Potter was inducted into the International Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame.
Television career
In the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Potter has served as color commentator for televised U.S. and international diving competitions, primarily for NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Potter continues to provide color commentary for NBC's Olympic diving coverage and served as an analyst for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
coverage of Diving at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Diving at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Diving competitions at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 10 to August 23, at the Beijing National Aquatics Centre.- Competition format :The following events were contested by both men and women in Beijing:...
.
Personal life
Potter graduated from Indiana University in 1973 with a degree in Secondary Education, and also received a graduate degree from the University of Arizona in Teaching and Teacher Education. Since retiring from diving, Potter currently serves as diving coach at The Westminster SchoolsThe Westminster Schools
The Westminster Schools is a private school in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1951 and tracing its origins to 1878, Westminster has the largest endowment of any non-boarding school in the United States...
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and has served as a diving coach at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
.