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Description
An article from page 10 of the periodical Diving world volume 1, number 5, June-July 1977. At the top of the article is an architectural rendering of the diving platform, springboards, and pool at the Mission Viejo Aquatics Swim Complex in the Marguerite Recreation Center. Set in the lower right corner of the illustration is a picture of Ron O'Brien. The caption of the illustration reads, "Proposed Mission Viejo Facilities." The article reads, "It is now evident that Mission Viejo was serious when it proclaimed a desire to become the diving capital of the world. Not only have the Nadadores nearly completed construction of a new Olympic diving facility and acquired the talents of silver medalist Gred [i.e. Greg] Louganis, but they have also announced the hiring of one of the world's foremost diving coaches, Dr. Ron O'Brien. O'Brien will take charge of the Mission Viejo program on May 1, 1978, after wrapping up an illustrious 15-year coaching career at Ohio State University. During this time, he was chosen as an Olympic coach three times ( 1968, '72, and '76) and his divers combined for 33 National and NCAA titles. The 38-year-old diving expert will remain at Ohio State for one more season before moving to the west coast. O'Brien has also turned out six Olympians: Tim Moore, Kent Vosler, Mike Finneran, Chuck Knorr, Deborah Wilson and Jennifer Chandler. Wilson captured a bronze and Chandler a gold. The success of O'Brien's career is due to his total dedication along with his mechanical and technical expertise. His divers consider him as an honest, up-front instructor, who always puts the diver's best interests ahead of himself. Olympic champion Dr. Sammy Lee will act as the Nadaores' diving consultant and will help establish the program before O'Brien's arrival in the late spring of '78. 'This will undoubtedly be one of the finest diving centers in the United States,' claims Lee. 'It is going to be outstanding. Nothing short of fantastic.' The Mission Viejo pool, scheduled for completion sometime during this summer, measures 25 meters by 25 yards and will be 17 feet deep just below the diving platform, tapering to a depth of six feet at the shallow end. The platfrom will feature three different leves (10, 7 1/2, and 5 meters) and will be surrounded by pairs of one and three meter springboards. One of the pool's more interesting technical features is the 'dive impact reducer,' actually a portable bubble manchine which will aerate the water from the bottom of the pool during practice. The impact reducer will cushion entry impact by about 80 percent, thus drastically cutting down the diver's chance of injury."
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