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Kassidy Cook Talks Olympics Postponement, Quarantine Training

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 13: Kassidy Cook of the United States competes in the Women’s 3M Springboard semi final on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Kassidy Cook is an American diver who placed 13th in the women’s 3 metre springboard at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A graduate of Stanford University, Cook competes in both the individual 3m springboard and the synchronized 3m springboard. As with countless athletes across the world, Cook’s training has been forced indoors due to the spread of the coronavirus. Below, she talked with Just Women’s Sports about how she’s handling quarantine, what the Olympics’ postponement means to her, why she walked away from the sport, and what brought her back. 

Where were you when sporting events started getting canceled due to COVID-19?

In February, I was in Madrid and then Rostock, Germany for a competition called the Grand Prinx. And then that’s when all this kind of started. We heard about all the cases in China and we noticed that a lot of the Chinese divers were absent from the competition because, at the time, they weren’t allowed to leave their country. Even then, I don’t think anyone knew the virus would turn into what it has become.

What were the following weeks like? 

I went home to Texas toward the end of February to train, and that’s when the pandemic situation started escalating. Sports left and right were getting canceled or postponed, and I started wondering what was going to happen to diving. At the time, we had the World Cup coming up, which was supposed to be the Olympic qualifying event, and then obviously the Olympics this summer. But as the days went by, more cases just kept popping up, and there was a lot of uncertainty. It was a strange time because Olympic hopefuls like me were still training and practicing, but it was hard not to think about the virus. It was definitely distracting and worrisome. Then our pool shut down, and there wasn’t a place for me to train, and they still hadn’t announced whether the World Cup or the Olympics were going to be cancelled or postponed. So I had nowhere to train and no idea if I was still going to go to my competition, and it still wasn’t clear what this virus was going to become.

What was your reaction when the Olympics were officially postponed? 

It was obviously the right move given the severity of the virus, but at first, I was definitely upset. I had quit my job and moved back home to Texas from San Francisco to train for the Olympics, so to hear that they weren’t going to happen this year was really hard. But a couple days after I gave it some real thought, I realized that the postponement actually was a good thing. The world is in such a hectic state right now. No athlete has anywhere to train. A lot of people are mentally and physically unhealthy. And you have to put it in perspective — the health of the citizens of the world, the citizens of our country, come above sport. And the silver lining is that I now have an additional year to train and get as good as I can for the Olympics.

Where is your head at now? 

Well, you have to make sacrifices for the Olympics regardless. So for me, making the sacrifice of another year is not a big deal, in the grand scheme of things. There is no question that I am going to keep training. People were feeling bad for me when they first heard about the postponement, telling me how it must suck to be an athlete right now. And I’m just like, it sucks for everyone, the whole entire world, athlete or not. Things are getting canceled, people are losing their jobs, family and friends are getting sick and dying. So I should be the last person to feel sorry for. I’m hanging in there and at the end of the day, it’s just a sport. The health of my family and community will always come above that.

How much of an impact will taking a few months off have on your future performances?

It’s tough for divers, because it’s not like we can just go for a run outside and call it a day. Diving requires very specific training, and it’s hard to stimulate the jumping movements at home. But regardless, you can still keep up with your physical fitness by doing bodyweight exercises and you can stay mentally focused by doing a lot of visualization. Diving is a big mental sport. People always say that if you could turn off your brain, you would be a better diver because your muscle memory would take over. So if you can practice visualizing what you would do off the board and model it on the ground, I think it can help with the mental aspect of the sport. At the same time, since a lot of diving is muscle memory, I’m not too worried about getting some time off.

What kind of workouts have you been able to do while under quarantine? 

My team has also been doing daily workouts on Zoom to stay on schedule. We meet at the same time every single day, and our coaches run us through the workout. It’s nice to be able to see everyone even if it’s not in person. It helps this hectic time feel a little more normal. In terms of workouts, it’s all bodyweight, plyometrics, core and stretching. These are things you can do anywhere. And it’s been fun to switch it up, plus it’s good to put your body in a state of confusion sometimes. It’ll get stronger in places where you didn’t know you were weak.

Overall, I’m trying to mirror my usual schedule as much as I can, just to keep my own sanity. I’m waking up at the same time as I would if I had practice, doing a workout in the morning when I would be having morning practice and then one in the afternoon. I want to do as much as I can during this time, because if others aren’t, it will give me a competitive edge. And on the other hand, I don’t want my competition to have an edge on me because I decided to slack off.

How does Olympic qualifying for diving work? You mentioned the World Cup — was there a specific result you needed to achieve there? 

For diving, they don’t grant every country a spot at the Olympics. You have to earn your spot by placing well in competitions. And the World Cup, which was supposed to be in April, was the last chance for countries to qualify for the Olympics. So my first job was to go to the World Cup to earn the United States a spot. Not my personal spot, but a spot for our country. It’s a lot of pressure, because if you do poorly, you’re letting your whole country down by not giving anyone a shot to make the Olympics. I was put in the same shoes in 2016, when there were no spots for the United States going into the World Cup, but thankfully I performed well enough at the event to earn my country a trip to Rio.

This year, if I had performed well enough at the World Cup to get the US a spot in Tokyo, then we would have had the US Olympic trials in June, and that’s where I would have competed to get my own personal spot. I compete in two events: synchro and individual, so at the trials I would have had to win the synchro event and then get first or second in the individual event to qualify for the Olympics.

How do you handle that pressure of having to compete for the whole team during the World Cup? 

I like having that pressure because I trust myself to deal with it. I’m a veteran, I’m experienced. And I hate to say it, but I don’t want to put my trust in somebody else getting the spot. I want to be the one up on the board.

Can you talk about the difference between the two events you compete in? 

So I compete individually in the three-meter springboard. That’s the event I did in the 2016 Olympics. But this time around, I am also doing that event in synchro. That’s when two divers are diving at the same time. It’s so much fun because it has aspects of a team sport within an individual sport. My partner, Sarah Bacon, and I have known each other since we were young and are really good friends. We’re having a lot of fun doing synchro, and our timing is super natural, which doesn’t happen for a lot to divers. We’ve only been paired together for a few months, whereas some partners have been together for years. But because we have similar styles of diving, similar body types, and similar strengths, the hard parts about synchro come easy to us, which just makes it even more fun.

Have you two won any competitions together?

In the time we’ve been partners, we’ve won all of the competitions that we’ve competed in, and we’ve been told by international judges we have a really good chance of medaling at the Olympics. So it’s been refreshing to have that confidence from the judges and also to just be having so much fun with it. I think it’s made me a better individual diver because I’m just having a lot of fun at practice. I don’t have to internalize all these pressures anymore, because there’s somebody I can share the experience with.

How did your experience at the 2016 games motivate you during this current cycle?

The 2016 Olympics were a great experience, even though I didn’t compete as well as I wanted to. At the time, I was only about 20 years old. I was super young, and I think I let the outside pressures get to me. I definitely didn’t have the confidence I have now. I wasn’t heading into the Olympics that year thinking I could medal, I was just ecstatic that I was even there. But this next time around, I think my focus and maturity will really come in handy and will hopefully give me an edge that I didn’t have in 2016. But I mean, in Rio I had the time of my life and I came in 13th in the world. That’s not so bad.

You took some time off after the 2016 Olympics. How come? 

So after I graduated from Stanford, I retired for a year. I had just been injured so many times and I wanted to be able to support myself with what I thought was a more legitimate job. I mean, you don’t make money from diving in the US, which is ultimately a driving force for a lot of athletes who retire after college because they need to make living. And for me personally, training would have meant moving back home, and to be completely honest, I was just embarrassed to do that.

But after working and living in San Francisco for a little bit, I started to really miss diving. I realized there would be other jobs waiting for me for the rest of my life, and that most of the negative energy I had about diving was all in my head. No one was actually going to care if I moved back home to train. And even if that was the case, I didn’t want to give up something I was passionate about just to please others.

Obviously your focus is day to day at the moment because of all the chaos. But looking past the 2021 Olympics, do you see yourself retiring again or continuing with the sport?

I think I’m going to keep competing for a while. I’m having a lot of fun with it, and as long as my body stays healthy and as long as I’m still enjoying what I’m doing, I would like to keep on going until at least the 2024 Olympics. But obviously, it’s day by day. Anything could happen. But now that I’ve started up again, I would love to keep it going.

‘The Late Sub’ Digs Into the Injury Report for NWSL and USWNT Star Trinity Rodman

A close-up profile of USWNT star Trinity Rodman looking out on the 2024 Olympic pitch.
Spirit star Trinity Rodman is away from the NWSL indefinitely with an ongoing back injury. (Harriet Lander - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins breaks down the newly reported indefinite absence of NWSL star Trinity Rodman from the Washington Spirit, with the 22-year-old attacker rehabbing an ongoing back injury that could reshape the prospects of both the Spirit and the USWNT.

Calling her "the face of the NWSL," Watkins details the Spirit star's long-term back injury, which has led Rodman to seek treatment with a team doctor in London — all while acknowledging that she doesn't think her "back will ever be 100%."

Watkins digs into the potential contributing factors to Rodman's current injury status, including the USWNT's heavy use of the forward during the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning run in Paris — and whether the team will make different decisions going forward due to the fallout on players like Rodman.

"I'm really curious if [USWNT manager Emma] Hayes and her coaching staff will adjust the way they approach strikers in the future, or forwards in the future, or rotation — or if this is just one of those many stories of a player giving it all for the United States and living with the consequences," says Watkins.

As for Washington, Watkins note that — in the wake of copious injuries — the Spirit is still finding ways to win, with club owner Michele Kang and the coaching staff shrewdly managing the depleted roster.

"I think they would be a juggernaut if they were healthy, but they can win pretty, they can win ugly," notes Watkins.

'An NWSL breaking point'

Watkins also points out that she thinks Rodman's choice to seek treatment in London could be significant, as the forward is currently in a contract year.

With multiple NWSL standouts recently defecting to European clubs, Watkins argues that the US league is hitting a "breaking point" when it comes to retaining top players.

"I am just really, really curious if, by the end of this season, this situation has led Rodman back to the Spirit or if this is the beginning of a player having to progress forward in a different environment," Watkins sums up.

About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.

Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

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Mid-Table Contenders Square Off in Sixth NWSL Matchday

Seattle's Ainsley McCammon and Ana-Maria Crnogorevic warm up before a 2025 NWSL match.
Coming off a big win against Portland, the Seattle Reign face a key mid-table matchup this weekend. (Steph Chambers/NWSL via Getty Images)

There's a traffic jam in the middle of the NWSL standings, with this weekend's slate bound to create some distance among mid-table teams jockeying to break free from the pack.

Between rising underdogs and top-dog rivalries, expect the 2025 NWSL season's sixth matchday to leave it all on the field:

  • No. 10 Houston Dash vs. No. 11 Utah Royals, Friday at 8 PM ET (NWSL+): Tied up at four points apiece, the pair of struggling teams just below playoff contention on the NWSL table will battle for a boost above the cutoff line as the recently sold Royals take a trip to Texas on Friday.
  • No. 3 Washington Spirit vs. No. 4 Gotham FC, Saturday at 1 PM ET (CBS): This week's top-table showdown features two injury-struck East Coast rivals getting rowdy at Audi — can Gotham turn things around or will Washington keep persevering?
  • No. 9 Bay FC vs. No. 8 Seattle Reign, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): Seattle holds a slim tie-break over Bay FC as both teams hug the playoff line, with the Reign looking to build on last week’s Cascadia Clash victory over Portland.

This weekend has the potential to divide the contenders from the pretenders, while the league's top three clubs continue to hold court over the rest of the field.

Spirit, Gotham Stoke East Coast Rivalry Flames in Saturday NWSL Matchup

Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury makes a save against East Coast rival Gotham during the 2024 NWSL semifinals.
The Washington Spirit knocked East Coast rival Gotham out of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Saturday's soccer lineup underlines a brewing East Coast rivalry, as the Washington Spirit hosts Gotham FC for the first time since knocking the Bats out of the 2024 NWSL semifinals.

"Just playing against them, you feel that fire," Spirit forward Makenna Morris told JWS this week, with Washington's Audi Field anticipating a large crowd for Saturday's match.

Both clubs know each other well, with 2021 NWSL champions Washington and 2023 trophy-winners Gotham seeing a number of big-name players migrating between New York and DC in recent years.

After finishing 2024 in the league's top four, both teams continue to lurk near the top of NWSL table this season, cementing the idea that the best rivalries blossom between winning sides.

"The [team] that poses the most challenge to you, it just makes you want to beat them so bad," said Washington midfielder Gabby Carle.

"You hate to play them because they're good, but you also love it because it's so competitive," echoed Morris.

Ultimately, familiarity is breeding healthy resentment between two of the NWSL's winningest sides, providing a little extra incentive to secure all three points in this weekend’s matchup.

How to watch NWSL rivals Washington vs. Gotham this weekend

The Spirit will host East Coast rival Gotham at 1 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage of the 2024 NWSL semifinals rematch airing on CBS.

WSL Clubs Fight for Survival in Champions League Semifinals

Barcelona's Claudia Pina celebrates her goal by pointing at teammate Alexia Putellas during their first-leg 2024/25 Champions League semifinal win over Chelsea.
Chelsea will attempt to overcome a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona on Sunday. (Ruben De La Rosa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

As the 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) wraps up its two-leg semifinals on Sunday, the English teams still in the running find themselves on the brink of elimination from Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Facing a 4-1 deficit against reigning champs Barcelona, Chelsea will aim to close the gap — and keep their historic quadruple hopes alive — at home this weekend.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will try to overcome a more manageable 2-1 deficit against eight-time Champions League winners Lyon, traveling to France to keep their UWCL campaign alive.

An English side hasn't won the UWCL since 2007, when Arsenal took home the WSL's lone European championship trophy.

"Huge respect for their history and what they have been doing and producing in the Champions League, in Europe," Arsenal manager Renée Slegers said of Lyon. "I think they're still a very strong side."

"Subconsciously, you always have that thing when you fall short, like last year," said Lyon midfielder and USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps, reflecting back on last season’s title loss to Barcelona. "You lose a game, you lose a tournament – the feeling is there until you're back in the the games that can fix that feeling."

How to watch the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals

Sunday's second leg of the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals kicks off with Chelsea vs. Barcelona at 9 AM ET, before Arsenal faces Lyon at 12 PM ET.

Both matches will air live on DAZN.

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