University of Georgia Athletics
Hopkins Ready For Final Diving Postseason
February 17, 2025 | The Frierson Files, Men's Swimming & Diving
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
The grind of being a collegiate diver is nothing new for Georgia senior Rhett Hopkins. But at the same time, he said, "all grinds are different."
Growing up in Annapolis, Md., Hopkins got interested in diving when as a 5-year-old he saw the 2008 Olympic 3-meter diving on television. And who was competing in that Games? Georgia's Chris Colwill, the greatest diver in program history and now the Bulldogs' diving head coach.
Once Hopkins started competing and reached a high enough level that he needed the best coaching in the area he could get, he regularly had to travel about an hour each way to practice.
"It was a huge commitment," Hopkins said. "My parents (Angie and Jon) were really great about not overworking me or not allowing me to overwork myself. ... They always made sure that I was doing OK, which really helped me want to progress as an athlete.
"All that driving was a huge commitment, and I'm so grateful that my parents were willing to do that for me. Not everybody's parents could do that, but everything kind of lined up perfectly for me. And I'm very grateful that I was able to keep doing what I loved to do."
That hard work has continued in college, where the demands of school and diving make for a lot of long, full days. Now in his final season at Georgia, Hopkins is trying to make the most of his time left. He and the Georgia men's and women's swimming and diving teams are competing this week in the SEC Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium, and Hopkins will compete in the 3-meter event on Tuesday.
Hopkins has qualified for the NCAA Zone B Championships all four years, and he has qualified this season in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform events. He said the quality and difficulty of the dives he's doing now are way above what he was capable of doing when he first got to Georgia and even his freshman season.
"I don't think I could have even touched the dives that I'm doing now," he said, adding "My sophomore year, when I finally adjusted to the schedule and how difficult it was, I progressed really quickly. I buckled down again and worked with Chris, and progressed really quickly."
Hopkins admits that he, like so many athletes, probably doesn't take enough time to appreciate all he's accomplished — and probably won't until he's finished competing.. Though he is trying to do that more this year, he said.
"It's okay to savor things for a little bit," he said.
One thing Hopkins is doing that he is definitely enjoying is coaching. After practice some days, he is coaching local junior divers alongside graduate assistant Ashlynn Sullivan. After about 15 years in the sport, it feels good to give back and help develop future generations of divers, he said.
"I don't know if I want to do it as a full-time job, but I really do enjoy it," he said. "I like seeing athletes happy with their progress at the end of a good day."
One of the divers he's helping coach is an Olympian and the daughter of GymDogs co-head coach Cécile Canqueteau-Landi. Juliette Landi competed for France at the Paris Olympics in 2024 as a 17-year-old, becoming a second-generation Olympian after Canqueteau-Landi competed for her native France in gymnastics in Atlanta in 1996. Landi only took up diving a few years ago after she stopped competing in gymnastics and trampoline.
"We're all really excited for her and super proud of the work she's putting in," Hopkins said.
Hopkins continues to put in plenty of work, too. When he sat down for an interview recently, the temporary bruises from cupping therapy were evident all over his body. Between the demands of school and diving, the physical and mental energy tanks can get depleted from time to time. Hopkins said you've got to "check out a little bit" every once in a while to stay fresh and focused.
Now that the postseason has begun, his last, Hopkins is doing everything he can to be at his best. No matter what happens the rest of the way, he knows he will walk away from the sport having worked hard and improved every step of the way.
"I'll just know that I gave it my all, and I'd be proud of that," he said.
Tuesday's competition at the SEC Championships begins with the men's 3-meter prelims at noon, followed by the 3-meter consolation finals at 2:10 p.m. The men's 3-meter finals will take place between the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay, starting at 5 p.m.
Staff Writer
The grind of being a collegiate diver is nothing new for Georgia senior Rhett Hopkins. But at the same time, he said, "all grinds are different."
Growing up in Annapolis, Md., Hopkins got interested in diving when as a 5-year-old he saw the 2008 Olympic 3-meter diving on television. And who was competing in that Games? Georgia's Chris Colwill, the greatest diver in program history and now the Bulldogs' diving head coach.
Once Hopkins started competing and reached a high enough level that he needed the best coaching in the area he could get, he regularly had to travel about an hour each way to practice.
"It was a huge commitment," Hopkins said. "My parents (Angie and Jon) were really great about not overworking me or not allowing me to overwork myself. ... They always made sure that I was doing OK, which really helped me want to progress as an athlete.
"All that driving was a huge commitment, and I'm so grateful that my parents were willing to do that for me. Not everybody's parents could do that, but everything kind of lined up perfectly for me. And I'm very grateful that I was able to keep doing what I loved to do."
That hard work has continued in college, where the demands of school and diving make for a lot of long, full days. Now in his final season at Georgia, Hopkins is trying to make the most of his time left. He and the Georgia men's and women's swimming and diving teams are competing this week in the SEC Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium, and Hopkins will compete in the 3-meter event on Tuesday.
Hopkins has qualified for the NCAA Zone B Championships all four years, and he has qualified this season in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform events. He said the quality and difficulty of the dives he's doing now are way above what he was capable of doing when he first got to Georgia and even his freshman season.
"I don't think I could have even touched the dives that I'm doing now," he said, adding "My sophomore year, when I finally adjusted to the schedule and how difficult it was, I progressed really quickly. I buckled down again and worked with Chris, and progressed really quickly."
Hopkins admits that he, like so many athletes, probably doesn't take enough time to appreciate all he's accomplished — and probably won't until he's finished competing.. Though he is trying to do that more this year, he said.
"It's okay to savor things for a little bit," he said.
One thing Hopkins is doing that he is definitely enjoying is coaching. After practice some days, he is coaching local junior divers alongside graduate assistant Ashlynn Sullivan. After about 15 years in the sport, it feels good to give back and help develop future generations of divers, he said.
"I don't know if I want to do it as a full-time job, but I really do enjoy it," he said. "I like seeing athletes happy with their progress at the end of a good day."
One of the divers he's helping coach is an Olympian and the daughter of GymDogs co-head coach Cécile Canqueteau-Landi. Juliette Landi competed for France at the Paris Olympics in 2024 as a 17-year-old, becoming a second-generation Olympian after Canqueteau-Landi competed for her native France in gymnastics in Atlanta in 1996. Landi only took up diving a few years ago after she stopped competing in gymnastics and trampoline.
"We're all really excited for her and super proud of the work she's putting in," Hopkins said.
Hopkins continues to put in plenty of work, too. When he sat down for an interview recently, the temporary bruises from cupping therapy were evident all over his body. Between the demands of school and diving, the physical and mental energy tanks can get depleted from time to time. Hopkins said you've got to "check out a little bit" every once in a while to stay fresh and focused.
Now that the postseason has begun, his last, Hopkins is doing everything he can to be at his best. No matter what happens the rest of the way, he knows he will walk away from the sport having worked hard and improved every step of the way.
"I'll just know that I gave it my all, and I'd be proud of that," he said.
Tuesday's competition at the SEC Championships begins with the men's 3-meter prelims at noon, followed by the 3-meter consolation finals at 2:10 p.m. The men's 3-meter finals will take place between the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay, starting at 5 p.m.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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