News/Media
Brittany Viola, U.S. Olympic Diving hopeful
Brittany Viola, a graduate of the University of Miami, originally from Orlando, Florida is another Floridian Olympic hopeful. Viola comes from a family of athletes. Her father was a starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. Her mother ran track in college track. Her brother Frankie played minor league baseball and her sister plays college volleyball.
Viola is considered a U.S. Olympic Diving hopeful even after several physical challenges over the years. She overcame bulimia before entering college, suffering two ankle surgeries (which had her off of the diving platform for 18 months) and became an alternate on the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Diving Teams. Read More
Aug. 13, 2011
LOS ANGELES - Former University of Miami diver Brittany Viola took gold in the women's 10-meter platform of the AT&T National Diving Championships on Saturday evening inside Spieker Aquatics Center on the campus of UCLA.
The Orlando native finished 10th at the FINA World Championships just over a month ago in China. However, she laid claim to her second national title Saturday afternoon on the 10-meter board with a score of 348.75. She scored 70-plus points on three of her five dives, including 76.80 on her back 2 ½ with 1 ½ twists in the last round.
"I didn't know where I was in the standings because I usually just focus on what I can do, but I knew I'd been consistent, so I knew if I could hit my last dive, I'd be in it," Viola said. Read More
May 12, 2012
Mixed results for ex-Canes at Diving Grand Prix
Reuben Ross secured a final berth in the 3-meter springboard, and Brittany Viola failed to advance in the 10-meter platform.Two former University of Miami divers competed in semifinals at the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix on Friday, but only one former Hurricane will be seeking a medal in the finals.
Canadian Reuben Ross, 27, will be in action at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center on Sunday after securing his final berth in the 3-meter springboard with a score of 429.55.
Floridian Brittany Viola, 25, finished fourth in her 10-meter platform semifinal with a score of 333.80. Only the top three finishers in the two semifinals can move on to the final round.
May 4th, 2012 ESPN
For most Olympic hopefuls, there is a saga of overcoming injuries and struggles to reach the top.
American diver Brittany Viola's tale is more dramatic than most, as she emerges from a battle with bulimia, two ankle surgeries and a lengthy layoff to stay on track toward qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Apr 17, 2012,
NEW YORK -- Before the 100-day countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games could begin, there was a pre-countdown of sorts.
It took place at the NASDAQ office, located in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, during the minute leading up to the Closing Bell at 3:59 p.m. EDT. As the final seconds ticked away, several Olympic dignitaries -- U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun and three generations of Team USA divers, Sammy Lee, Greg Louganis and Brittany Viola -- participated in the ringing of the Closing Bell.
The NASDAQ composite closed at 3,042.82, up 54.42 points, a good day at the market and, hopefully, Team USA will beat expectations as well when the Olympic Games begin July 27.
Read More
June 25, 2012 Star Tribune MN
The other final on Sunday saw Brittany Viola, daughter of 1988 Cy Young Award winning pitcher Frank Viola, win the women's 10-meter platform in her third attempt to make the Olympics.
Viola dominated the competition winning by nearly 60 points ahead of second place Katie Bell, who claimed the other qualifying spot for the London games. Viola scored 86.40 on her second-round dive, an armstand back dive from the platform with 2 somersaults and 1 1/2 twists, getting all 9s from the judges.
Charley Walters: Brittany Viola, Olympic diver, has proud papa in former Minnesota Twin Frank Viola
Pioneer Press
Posted: 06/25/2012
Frank Viola has never been to London, but he's going now.
"Should be interesting," he said.
Brittany Viola, 25, daughter of the former Twins Cy Young Award winner, earned a berth on the U.S. Olympic diving team Sunday, June 24. She'll compete in London in the 10-meter event next month.
"I'm as proud as a parent can feel," Viola, 52, said Monday from Savannah, Ga., where he is the minor league pitching coach for the New York Mets' Class A Sand Gnats.
Viola and about half of the Gnats team, in a steamy hot Savannah clubhouse, watched Brittany earn her Olympic berth live on national TV.
"Watched the whole thing; it was pretty cool," Frank said.
Frank said the only advice he has offered Brittany "is to go out there and have fun. You've worked at this your whole life. You have to trust in your body, trust that you've done everything right, and just go out and have fun.
Daughter of former Mets pitcher Viola headed to Olympics
By TIM BOOTH , June 25, 2012
Brittany Viola, the daughter of former Cy Young winner Frank Viola, secured a spot on the Olympic diving team yesterday by winning the 10-meter platform trials.
Viola narrowly missed making the United States team in 2008, but this time the Associated Press describes her as having “dominated the competition” to secure a trip to London.
NBCOlympics.com has the video of her final dive and emotional celebration. Her dad, a three-time All-Star who’s now the Mets’ low Single-A pitching coach, was watching on television from the Savannah Sand Gnats’ clubhouse.
