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Purdue diving coach diagnosed with ALS; Olympic gold medalist David Boudia to lead program

Purdue announced current head diving coach Adam Soldati will be stepping aside this summer to focus on his health and family after recently being diagnosed with ALS.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Olympic gold medalist David Boudia will soon become the head diving coach at his alma mater.

Purdue University announced Thursday that current head diving coach Adam Soldati will be stepping aside this summer to focus on his health and family after recently being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

With the announcement, Boudia was named head diving coach at the university.

Soldati will continue to coach the Boilermakers through the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June, then work with Boudia through the Olympic Games this summer, Purdue said in a release. He will serve as director of diving for the Boilermakers for a short time after Boudia takes over full-time.

Boudia won a gold medal in the 10-meter platform competition at the London Olympics in 2012 and took bronze in the 10-meter synchro event at the same Games. Four years later, he won silver in the 10-meter synchro with fellow Boilermaker Steele Johnson and bronze in the 10-meter individual platform event.

Credit: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E
Steele Johnson, right, and David Boudia, left, celebrate after the men's synchronized 10-meter platform diving final at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"David's success at the NCAA and Olympic levels has had a positive impact on everyone at the pool," Soldati said.

A Noblesville native, Boudia has been an assistant diving coach at Purdue since 2021. He officially retired from competition a year later.

"Purdue Diving has a history of greatness in large part due to Adam Soldati," Boudia said. "I am proud to stand beside him as we work to continue this legacy, coaching our divers to reach their greatest potential. I’m excited for this opportunity to remain an active part of the excellence at Purdue."

Soldati was diagnosed with ALS in February and told his team about the diagnosis in early April. 

"The legacy Adam Soldati has created with Purdue Diving is truly remarkable, and he will forever be the cornerstone on which our rich history and future is built," Boudia said. 

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