BY UH Athletics,

The University of Hawai`i All-American diver Magnus Frick will compete in Beijing, China on February 20 at the 2008 FINA Diving World Cup held at the newly completed Chinese National Aquatics Center.

The competition is the final opportunity for divers to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the sport of diving. Frick, who finished in third place at last year's NCAA Championships in the 3-meter event, will be competing for his home country of Sweden in the 3-meter springboard event.

The top 18 divers on February 20th will automatically earn a spot for their country in the 2008 Olympic Games. Twelve divers already earned spots for their countries at the 2007 World Aquatic Championship which was held in Melbourne, Australia during March of 2007.
"If Magnus dives very well on Wednesday and places in the top 18, then he will earn a spot for Sweden in the Olympics and he will earn a spot for himself in the 3-meter Semifinals on the next day," UH Diving Coach Mike Brown said. "That would be great to get a UH diver qualified for the Olympics. All of the best divers in the world will be in China this week trying to qualify for the Olympics -- it doesn't get much tougher than that!"

On Monday, February 25th there will be a "B Final" among non-qualified athletes to fill the field of 34 divers for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"Magnus has been training well and training hard. Coach Anita Rossing has been helping him prepare for this competition and focus in on what it will take to qualify," Brown said. "Magnus has dived well at times on 3-meter this year and last year. Now he just needs to do it on the world stage at the right moment."

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