The 2012 Olympics are coming up in London in a little more than a month, and there will be at least one connection to Minnesota on this year's United States diving team.
↵Brittany Viola, the daughter of former Twins left-hander Frank Viola, finished first in the 10-meter platform diving competition at this year's Olympic trials in Federal Way, Washington. She was born in Minnesota in 1987 while her father was pitching for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins won the 1987 World Series, with Frank being named the Series MVP, so I guess you could say 1987 was a pretty good year in the Viola household.
↵Brittany was originally trained in gymnastics, but she "retired" at age 13. . .yes, retired at thirteen. . .to concentrate on diving. She barely missed making the team in both 2004 and 2008, but the third time turned out to be the charm, as she will lead the team to the United Kingdom.
↵Congratulations to Brittany Viola on making the U.S. Olympic Diving team, and hopefully her trip to London will bear fruit.