Olympic Diver. Won a bronze medal for the U.S. at the 1984 Olympics, and seven-time U.S. national champion platform diver. She was also a spokesperson, along with Greg Louganis for Speedo sports gear in commercials and print ads in the 1980's. Wendy moved from her native Penfield, N.Y. to Mission Viejo, Calif., when she was 14 to train under coach Ron O'Brien. In the 1982 Quayaquil World Championship, she gained prominence by winning the gold medal in the 10-meter platform. In the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, she won a gold medal in platform and captured silver in 3-meter springboard diving. A favorite in the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, VanDerWoude finished third in the 10-meter platform behind China's Zhou Jihong and Michele Mitchell of the United States. Shoulder injuries forced her to sit out most of the 1985 season, but she competed in the 1986 Madrid World Championships, winning a bronze in the 10-meter platform behind Chen Lin and Lu Wei, both from China. She died suddenly of undetermined causes (a brain aneurysm is suspected) at age 38.
Olympic Diver. Won a bronze medal for the U.S. at the 1984 Olympics, and seven-time U.S. national champion platform diver. She was also a spokesperson, along with Greg Louganis for Speedo sports gear in commercials and print ads in the 1980's. Wendy moved from her native Penfield, N.Y. to Mission Viejo, Calif., when she was 14 to train under coach Ron O'Brien. In the 1982 Quayaquil World Championship, she gained prominence by winning the gold medal in the 10-meter platform. In the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, she won a gold medal in platform and captured silver in 3-meter springboard diving. A favorite in the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, VanDerWoude finished third in the 10-meter platform behind China's Zhou Jihong and Michele Mitchell of the United States. Shoulder injuries forced her to sit out most of the 1985 season, but she competed in the 1986 Madrid World Championships, winning a bronze in the 10-meter platform behind Chen Lin and Lu Wei, both from China. She died suddenly of undetermined causes (a brain aneurysm is suspected) at age 38.
Bio by: Noni
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