| Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse | |
| Sport: | Diving |
| Birth Date: | 23 August 1968 |
| Birth Place: | Lansing, Michigan, United States |
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]
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]