ASU diver recalls Olympic experience with Team Canada

Arizona State University student and Team Canada diver Riley McCormick said he was “wowed” by the recent Olympic Games in London.

“The wow factor was definitely up there on this one,” the 20-year-old diver told News/Talk 92.3 KTAR’s Karie & Chuck Show, comparing this Olympic experience to the one he had in Beijing in 2008.

McCormick, who finished 11th overall, said the opening and closing ceremonies in London were better for him because, frankly, he could understand what was going on due to the ceremony being in English.

“You’re immersed in massive stadium with thousands and thousands of people,” he said. “It was a really cool feeling.”

While walking in the ceremonies among the likes of LeBron James and Roger Federer, the Canadian-born McCormick said the best part of the London Games was meeting fellow ASU great James Harden.

“I’d always been following him because of the ASU relationship,” he said.

McCormick is due to return to Tempe next week to begin his junior year, where he will focus on taking the NCAA diving crown (he was a runner-up last year) and earning his degree.