As we approach the 2008 Summer Olympics, now is a good time to talk about some Olympians who have been homeschooled. Being able to make education work around training through homeschooling is something many of these athletes like Ariel Rittenhouse have in common with each other. She attended public middles school as well as high school as a freshman, but now attends online school in order to work around her training schedule. While she loved the social interaction in schools, she is says, “It’s great to be getting one-on-one lessons.”
Ariel Rittenhouse was born on December 9, 1990 in Menlo California to Bob and Sharon Rittenhouse. She has three older brothers and one older sister. She lists her hometown as Santa Cruz and currently resides at the US National Training center in Indianapolis, Indiana where she trains with “one of the best diving teams in the nation”.
Ariel is descended from a line of talented athletes. Her mom holds seven world records in swimming, won 19 championships, plus a gold medal in 1963 Pan American Games, and a Silver medal in the 1964 Olympics. Her uncle Mike Finneran Played football and baseball for Cornell University, was a diver in the 1972 Olympic Games. Her grandmother, Carolyn Finneran, was team manager of the 1976 Olympic swim team her grandfather Frank Finneran was All American for football and baseball, which he played at Cornell University. Other athletes in the family include her Aunt Carrie Irish with 5 NCAA and 4 National Championships, her uncle Gil Evans who won a Silver medal in the 1 meter, and her Great Grandfather, Holman Evans who was on the University of Pennsylvania Dive team. Her siblings are also active athletes.
In spite of the family legacy, her mother was still amazed the first time she did a front flip at the age of two and announced her intention to be a diver. In 2004, Ariel won her first Speedo National Junior Championship on the 10-meter platform. Since then she has earned numerous honors and championships, which include:
- Silver medal: 2007 Pan American Games women’s synchronized 3m (also won 5th place in 3m)
- 3m champion: 2007 Kaiser Permanente National Championships women’s synchronized
- 3m champion: 2006 Speedo U.S. Open women’s synchronized
- 3m champion: 2006 FINA Diving Mexico Grand Prix Super Final women’s synchronized
- Silver medal: 2006 FINA Diving China World Cup women’s synchronized 3m
- Women Platform champion: 2005 Junior National Championships
Ariel Rittenhouse’s diving partner is Kelci Bryant. In addition to diving, Ariel loves watching TV and lists her favorite shows and Law & Order, Monk, The Closer and Psych. She also loves moves such as The Emperor’s New Groove and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. She also loves surfing, going to the beach, dancing and reading. Sushi, macaroni and cheese, and spaghetti and meatballs are her favorite foods.
References: www.usolympicteam.com, www.usadiving.org
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