Being the first to accomplish a historical feat usually comes with fanfare and recognition. Not so for today’s guest, Diane Maiese. Almost 25 years after the fact, Diane learned that she was the first, and as of yet, the only black female to win an NCAA National Championship in Diving and be named four-time All-American. She is also the first black female to coach diving at the division one level and the first to become a FINA-certified judge from the USA. Today, she and Sara discuss:

• Her unique upbringing as a person of color, adopted into an Italian-Catholic family living in a Jewish neighborhood
• Her unconventional discovery and recruitment into the sport of diving
• The moment she was told she wouldn’t go anywhere in the sport
• Body image, eating disorders, and the challenging stigma of “being on display” as a diver
• Her Diving Into Diversity initiatives throughout the US

While it’s an honor to be acknowledged for her accomplishments, Diane admits it isn’t necessarily a celebration. What it has done is fuel her desire to change the landscape of the sport she loves and provide accessibility to diving for everyone so that she is no longer the “first” and “only.”

Diverva.org

Compete Sports Diversity

Get 25% off all courses through the end of June 2025! Purchase a Feisty On-Demand Course: learning.feisty.co

Sign up to Receive The Feisty 40+ Newsletter:

https://www.feistymenopause.com/blog/Feisty-40-plus

Sign up to Receive The Feist Newsletter:

https://www.womensperformance.com/the-feist

Follow us on Instagram:

@feisty_womens_performance

Feisty Media Website:

https://livefeisty.com/

https://www.womensperformance.com/

Support our Partners:

Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with the code PERFORMANCE at https://www.previnex.com/