Rio good: Phoenix suburb gives Olympics-bound diver his own day

PHOENIX — July 15 will no longer be another anonymous day, at least in a Phoenix suburb.

The city of Tempe announced Friday that July 15 will now be known as Sam Dorman Day, in honor of Sam Dorman, a Tempe-born and raised diver who will represent the United States in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month.

“To have one of your own not only represent the city and our state – but our country – is truly remarkable,” Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said. “He’s a homegrown kid; he’s fulfilling some tremendous dreams; and he’s gonna make us all proud.”

Despite having his own date on the calendar, Dorman said he doesn’t focus on fame or fortune.

“I try and focus on the present,” he said. “I think we focus on what we can do each day.”

Dorman won three state diving championships at Tempe’s Marcos de Niza High School. This will be his first Olympics.

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