Samantha Pickens is a decorated diver and a member of the USA diving team. Samantha started diving at the age of 13 and has since competed around the world — including winning sixth place at the 2020 World Cup in Tokyo, Japan. Samantha majored in psychology at the University of Arizona while she trained under the direction of Coach Omar Ojeda.

In this episode…

Most young athletes dream of competing in the Olympics, but what does it take to make that a reality? What does day-to-day life look like for competitive athletes — and how do they balance their mental health with the pressure of competition?

Meet Samantha Pickens, a member of the USA diving team. She first fell in love with swimming and competitive gymnastics, but after racking up injuries from the balance beam, she needed to find another outlet. A friend recommended combining her two passions and pursuing diving. After just a few months, Samantha was hooked — and the rest is history.

On this episode of the Sports Up podcast, Meredith Syms is joined by Samantha Pickens, a decorated diver and a member of the USA diving team. Samantha describes her intense daily practice routine, how she makes her mental health a priority, and what she learned from competing in Tokyo. She also shares her advice for balancing your mind and body as an athlete.