Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse

Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse
Personal information
Born	August 23, 1968 (age 55); Lansing, Michigan, United States
Sport
Sport	Diving

Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse (born August 23, 1968) is an American diver.^[1] She competed in the women's 3 metre springboard event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.^[2] She has been described as "the greatest diver, male or female, to ever come through Michigan State".^[3]

Biography

Farrell-Ovenhouse was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1968,^[1] and grew up in Holt, Michigan.^[4] She competed for Michigan State University, becoming a six-time All-American champion,^[3] along with ten Big Ten Conference titles.^[1]^[3] At the Big Ten meet, she became the champion in the 1-metre springboard and the 3-metre springboard events in the late 1980s and early 1990s.^[1] She replicated the feat, by becoming the 1-metre and 3-metre NCAA champion in 1990 and 1991 respectively.^[1]^[3] In 1990, Farrell-Ovenhouse was named the NCAA Diver of the Year and the Michigan State Sportswoman of the Year.^[1] The following year, she was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year.^[1]^[3]

Farrell-Ovenhouse had been a member of the United States national team since 1989.^[4] Her performances at the 1992 National Championships earned her a place on the US Olympic team.^[3] At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, she competed in the women's 3 metre springboard event,^[5] finishing in fifth place.^[6] After missing out on a medal, Farrell-Ovenhouse said that she "went for it in the end" and that she "would have regretted if I didn't go hard".^[7]

Following the Olympics, Farrell-Ovenhouse was inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame,^[8] and the Michigan State Sports Hall of Fame.^[1]^[9] She also went on to speak at board meetings at Michigan State University regarding budget cuts in their swimming and diving programs.^[10]^[11]