Pan American Games next step for former Hawkeye diver Freeman in Olympic quest

Rio de Janeiro is where former University of Iowa diver Deidre Freeman is hoping to be next summer for Team USA. She's one step closer to the Olympics as she participates in the Pan American Games in Toronto next week.

'It's a little bit different than competing domestically in the U.S. because you're up against the best in the world,” Freeman said. 'At this meet, it kind of mimmicks the Olympic games because it's all sports and it's almost half of the world.”

Freeman will compete in the individual three-meter and synchronized three-meter events.

The sport of diving has taken the Grinnell native all over the world.

'My first international meet was in 2012 at the Canada Cup. And then, my second international meet was the World Championships in 2013 and since then, I've been on various trips all over the world,” Freeman said. 'I've been to Malaysia, Dubai, China, I was in Puerto Rico earlier this year. So, I've been around, but this will only be my third time competing individually at an international meet, so I'm really excited.”

While Freeman has already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials next summer, she's hoping for a top-five finish in her individual event and a top-three finish in the synchronized event at the Pan American Games.

'It gets more exciting, but I also feel a sense of urgency,” Freeman said. 'I know it's a year, and it seems like it's a long time, but in terms of training it's not really that much time. So, I just feel I need to perfect everything right now so that I'm ready and I'm comfortable. I'm hoping that it's going to be like a pre-Olympics for me.”

Next week will also be a family reunion. Freeman's mother is from Hamilton, Ontario, which is an hour outside of Toronto. Her grandmother, aunt and uncle still live there.

In addition, her sister's fiancee, former Hawkeye William Albert, is a Hamilton native and will participate in the gymnastics competition.

'It's always hard to go to meets when you don't have anyone there,” Freeman said. 'It'll be nice because I know the area a little bit, so it's kind of like another home to me.”