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Kimiko Hirai-Soldati profiled by NBC documentary crew

Kimiko Hirai-Soldati is interviewed by NBC news associate producer Katherine Chan for an upcoming documentary, which will be shown on The Sundance Channel in February.

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Jan. 16, 2006

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - In anticipation of next month's Winter Olympic Games, a documentary crew with NBC News visited Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center Monday to profile Olympian Kimiko Hirai-Soldati, who is the wife of Purdue diving coach Adam Soldati.

The untitled documentary, which is scheduled to air on NBC-sister network the Sundance Channel on Feb. 4, focuses on athletes who overcame great adversity, yet were denied their Olympic dreams. Speed skater Bruce Connor, aerialist skier Stacey Bloomer-Evans and wrestler Bob Giordano also will be featured.

Kimiko's fight to reach the Olympic Games began after she hit the water wrong, coming off the 10-meter platform tower at her alma mater, Indiana University.

The awkward landing ripped her shoulder joint, which cost her a shot at making the 2000 Olympic Team, and resulted in four surgeries.

But Kimiko kept working through the constant hardships, and made the 2004 team at age 30 after winning the 3-meter springboard title at the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials.

Another reason Kimiko was selected for the documentary, was for her dedication to her web site, kimiko-usa.com. Even during the busiest of times at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kimiko still found the time to update her diary and post pictures.

"I first read about her after the Olympics," said Katherine Chan, who is an associate producer with NBC News productions. "I was impressed that she was able to keep a web log of her time in Athens. She wrote about the beating the odds to make it to the Olympics, detailed the whole experience of being part of that team, and was honest when she didn't get what she hoped for."

At those games, Kimiko finished 21st off the 3-meter springboard with 252.36 points.

Kimiko's web site is still updated regularly, as she features pictures of newborn son Blake, and friends from the Purdue swimming and diving teams.

Purdue's men's swimmers and divers are off from competition this week, but the women travel to IU for their annual dual meet with the Hoosiers Saturday at 1 p.m.