Olympic proclamation comes true for Purdue diver Maycey Vieta, just not how she envisioned

WEST LAFAYETTE — Maycey Vieta was 6, maybe 7 years old, when she first proclaimed her intentions to compete in the Olympics.

Silly, Vieta admits now.

"At that time, I would tell myself, 'I want to be an Olympian,'" Vieta recalled. "Obviously, I had no idea what that meant or what went into being an Olympian."

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She knows now, but it took Vieta transitioning from gymnastics to diving at age 11, then suffering the heartbreak of failing to qualify for the Olympics in 2021.

It was a moment that redirected her focus throughout the duration of Vieta's Purdue diving career and second chance at reaching that vision from her youth.

"Maycey’s story is incredible. She barely missed the last Olympic games," Purdue diving coach David Boudia said. "Devastated, heartbroken. And then used that as fuel and say, OK, for three years, I have a mission to make the Olympic games."

Vieta tapped into her father's heritage and competes internationally for Puerto Rico. Though Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S., it competes independently. Vieta is its lone diving representative and will be coached by Boudia in Paris.

It was Purdue's history producing Olympic divers that brought Vieta to West Lafayette to begin with.

After Vieta's passion for gymnastics dwindled, and advised by her mother to choose another sport, Vieta began training with the Ohio State Diving Club in Columbus, Ohio.

After a high school state championship and two runner-up finishes, Vieta came to Purdue, where she became a four-time All-American, a 2023 Big Ten champion on the 10-meter platform and as a sophomore in 2021 placed third at the NCAA Championships in the same event.

"Purdue has always had history and success and so coming to Purdue, I was like, well, if I want to be the best diver I can be, I have to train with the best," Vieta said. "That was Purdue, no doubt."

Never more did that decision pay off than last February at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Vieta was the first participant competing on the 10-meter platform event, a nerve-racking position.

Boudia, a diving veteran with four Olympic medals to his credit, was able to ease Vieta's anxiety.

Vieta placed 15th, ultimately earning an Olympic bid.

"I really put everything I had into that," Vieta said. "Saying now you're an Olympian who did it, I don't even know if I believe it."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Olympic proclamation comes true for Purdue diver Maycey Vieta, just not how she envisioned