Chris Heaton owns a perfect record in MAC competition during his career at Miami.

Face to Face with Chris Heaton

By: Katie Giovinale

Posted: 11/18/08

Name: Chris Heaton
Sport: Diving
Hometown: Centerville, Ohio

Katie Giovinale: What events do you compete in?

Chris Heaton: I do the one-meter and the three-meter springboard.

KG: How old were you when you started diving?

CH: I was in gymnastics for 10 years when I suffered two stress fractures in my back. I tried diving for fun and I stuck with it.

KG: How did you do in high school?

CH: I was an All-American (and) freshman year I finished 15th at state. Sophomore year I was fourth, junior year I was third and senior year I finished second. I came to Miami when I was in high school and started training with the coach. I was on his club team and I would drive down three to four times a week to train with him.

KG: What are some of your college accomplishments?

CH: I have six individual conference titles in the MAC. I haven't lost an event yet in conference meets. I've been the MAC diver of the year every year since I've been here, and at the last IU (Indiana University) Open I was second on the three meter against people that dive at IU and Stanford. I've qualified for NCAA Zone Championships three times. I currently have the varsity pool and MAC records for the three-meter and the one-meter school and MAC record. I've also beat two Olympians.

KG: Any plans to try out for the Olympics yourself?

CH: Next year I'm going to stay here and train for another year. If I'm doing well then I'll try for the 2012 Olympics. I'm going to try to get on an Olympic Medal program and go to international meets. I might also move back to Indianapolis and train with the national team again. I never competed in the three-meter until I got to Miami, and I get better every year. I'm excited to see myself in two years.

KG: How do your scores compare with those of Olympic divers?

CH: I score in the high 300s and they score in the mid 400s.

KG: What's your workout schedule like?

CH: We lift two days a week and we're in the pool twice a day except for days we lift. Some days we have to do triples which are water workouts, weights, then a water workout in the afternoon again.

KG: What is your relationship like with your coach?

CH: I'm pretty close with him. We're close-knit, he's taught me a lot of stuff.

KG: What's a day in the life of Chris Heaton like?

CH: I get up at 6:30 a.m. and I'm at the pool by 6:45. We stretch, do abs and warm up and we're on the boards by 7. At 7:50, we sprint to the Gross Center and lift from 8 to 9. Then I have class and lunch and an afternoon workout. I got to my evening lab, then study tables, do more homework, then go to bed.

KG: What's your major? What do you plan on doing with it?

CH: I'm an exercise science major. I want to be the strength and conditioning specialist at a Division 1 college in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) or PAC-10 (Pacific-10 Conference).

KG: What's your dream job?

CH: Getting that job at an Olympic training center.

KG: What are your goals this year?

CH: I'd like to break a 400 on the three-meter and 375 on the one-meter. I'd like to be top eight at NCAA. My main goal is to win both the one-meter and the three-meter at the conference for the fourth year in a row because no one has ever done that before.

KG: What about team goals?

CH: We're a strong team, we want another conference ring. We just joined the MAC Sunbelt and we'd like to try for top five there.

KG: What do you like to do for fun?

CH: When it's nice out I like to play softball with the guys or get some ultimate frisbee going. I also love movies-I watch so many movies.

KG: What are your top three picks?

CH: Remember the Titans, Gladiator and Dodgeball.