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Woodlands cancer survivor excels in competitive diving
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| Lori Hillman, of The Woodlands, performs a dive at a meet earlier this year. Hillman is one of a handful of divers who will compete in the 2008 Summer Masters National Championships later this week at the Woodlands Athletic Club. |
By JAY LANGLEY
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2003, The Woodlands’ Lori Hillman used a love for diving as motivation to help her battle the disease.
“It helps to have something to fight for,” Hillman said. “With diving, I knew there was something that I loved to do and didn’t want to let the cancer prevent me from doing.”
Hillman is one of a handful of divers scheduled to compete in the 2008 Summer Masters National Championships Friday through Sunday at the Woodlands Athletic Club.
The deadline to sign up for the national championships is 10 a.m. Thursday. As of Sunday, 50 divers from around the nation had signed up to compete.
“I started competing in the Masters in 1988,” the 48-year-old Hillman said. “Diving is something that keeps you healthy and happy.”
The Masters National Championships are open to adults ages 21 and above. At 84 years old, Tom Hairabedian, of Independence, Mo., is the oldest competitor signed up for the meet.
“The diving community is a close knit family,” said Bill Travis, who trains Hillman at the Conroe Diving Club. “There will be people at this meet that have been diving together for 30 years.”
Hillman was not able to dive for most of 2003 while undergoing chemotherapy. But five years after her diagnosis, the mother of two is back to diving on a regular basis and tries to compete in at least two national events each year.
“I am doing well,” Hillman said. “I can wear a Speedo and feel good about myself.”
With local divers Nancilea Foster and Laura Wilkinson competing in the 2008 Olympics, Hillman has a vested interest. Hillman is a foot specialist in The Woodlands and has operated on both Olympians.
“I’m so proud of both of those girls,” Hillman said. “I’m heading home right now to watch Nancilea.”
Hillman has spent time training at both The Conroe Diving Club and the Woodlands Athletic Club, getting to know a lot of the younger divers who train there.
“Working out with the kids and getting to know them is the thing I love the best about diving,” she said. “Diving has allowed me to get to know some really special people.”
But while many of the divers at the Olympics are 30 years younger than her, Hillman said diving is not just for young people.
“It’s a sport you can do forever,” Hillman said. “I hope I can do it until I’m 100.”
As a cancer survivor, Hillman said she welcomes the opportunity to be a role model.
“A lot of people in the diving community know what I’ve been through,” she said. “People who are going through what I went through feel comfortable talking to me.
“They see me as somebody who is a survivor and is still able to do what I love to do.”
“It helps to have something to fight for,” Hillman said. “With diving, I knew there was something that I loved to do and didn’t want to let the cancer prevent me from doing.”
Hillman is one of a handful of divers scheduled to compete in the 2008 Summer Masters National Championships Friday through Sunday at the Woodlands Athletic Club.
The deadline to sign up for the national championships is 10 a.m. Thursday. As of Sunday, 50 divers from around the nation had signed up to compete.
“I started competing in the Masters in 1988,” the 48-year-old Hillman said. “Diving is something that keeps you healthy and happy.”
The Masters National Championships are open to adults ages 21 and above. At 84 years old, Tom Hairabedian, of Independence, Mo., is the oldest competitor signed up for the meet.
“The diving community is a close knit family,” said Bill Travis, who trains Hillman at the Conroe Diving Club. “There will be people at this meet that have been diving together for 30 years.”
Hillman was not able to dive for most of 2003 while undergoing chemotherapy. But five years after her diagnosis, the mother of two is back to diving on a regular basis and tries to compete in at least two national events each year.
“I am doing well,” Hillman said. “I can wear a Speedo and feel good about myself.”
With local divers Nancilea Foster and Laura Wilkinson competing in the 2008 Olympics, Hillman has a vested interest. Hillman is a foot specialist in The Woodlands and has operated on both Olympians.
“I’m so proud of both of those girls,” Hillman said. “I’m heading home right now to watch Nancilea.”
Hillman has spent time training at both The Conroe Diving Club and the Woodlands Athletic Club, getting to know a lot of the younger divers who train there.
“Working out with the kids and getting to know them is the thing I love the best about diving,” she said. “Diving has allowed me to get to know some really special people.”
But while many of the divers at the Olympics are 30 years younger than her, Hillman said diving is not just for young people.
“It’s a sport you can do forever,” Hillman said. “I hope I can do it until I’m 100.”
As a cancer survivor, Hillman said she welcomes the opportunity to be a role model.
“A lot of people in the diving community know what I’ve been through,” she said. “People who are going through what I went through feel comfortable talking to me.
“They see me as somebody who is a survivor and is still able to do what I love to do.”
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