Each spring, the Mission Viejo Nadadores proudly host the Ron O’Brien Invitational, an annual tradition that honors one of diving’s greatest icons. But this year, the meet took on a deeper meaning. Following the passing of legendary coach Dr. Ron O’Brien on November 19, 2024, at the age of 86, the Nadador community came together not just to compete—but to celebrate a legacy that helped shape generations of divers and coaches.
The passing of a Titan.
Dr. O’Brien’s influence on the sport is unparalleled. With a career that spanned over three decades, he led U.S. Olympic divers to 12 medals across eight Games. Among his most storied athletes were Greg Louganis—who famously claimed back-to-back double gold medals—and our own Executive Director, Dr. Michele Mitchell, a two-time Olympic silver medalist. O’Brien’s famed coaching career included stops at Ohio State University, Mission Bay, Fort Lauderdale, and, most meaningfully to us, right here at the Mission Viejo Nadadores. He helped our program earn national prominence, contributing to numerous titles throughout his time on deck. His legacy was cemented with inductions into both the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1988) and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame (2019).
In a fitting tribute, the City of Mission Viejo recently dedicated renaming the diving well at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex to the “Dr. Ron O’Brien Dive Well.” The unveiling ceremony will take place during the opening ceremonies of the 2025 USA Diving Junior National Championships this July. And just days ago, friends, family, and members of the diving community gathered in Columbus, Ohio—O’Brien’s coaching home at Ohio State—for a celebration of life in his honor.
This year’s invite was a huge success!
The 2025 Ron O’Brien Invitational reflected this deep sense of remembrance and pride, becoming the largest in the meet’s history. “This year’s ROB Invite was a huge success!” said Meet Director and Associate Head Coach Lauren Thiel-Lopez. “With nearly 400 divers and over 800 total entries across two weekends, we saw incredible performances from athletes at every level. Several of our divers had standout performances, and many competed new dives they’ve added to their lists for this competitive season for the first time. Behind the scenes, everything ran smoothly thanks to all our wonderful volunteers and Dan Badstubner running the tables.”
Head Coach and High Performance Director John Appleman echoed the excitement. “This competition always serves our athletes well in providing them valuable meet experience as we look towards commencing our competitive season. Much of the past few months have been spent on skill acquisition so we weren’t prepared to peak for this meet. Regardless, the divers performed well and the volunteer parents were amazing in providing a great experience to one of the largest contingent of athletes we’ve ever hosted at a Ron O’Brien Invitational.”
Outstanding attitude, sportsmanship and support.
From the JO level to the Novice ranks, the O’Brien spirit was alive and well. “The JO events helped athletes gauge where they stand heading into Regionals,” said Liz Sanchez, Director of Developmental Diving. “But more than scores, I was especially impressed with divers’ outstanding attitude, sportsmanship and support toward divers from other teams.”
Excellence with heart.
Lead Novice Coach Grayson Campbell added, “Whether it was a diver’s first meet or they were a seasoned competitor, I saw our team lift each other up and create an environment full of encouragement and joy. I love seeing the team rally around each other.” That’s the Ron O’Brien legacy in action—excellence with heart.
As the sun set over the newly christened Dr. Ron O’Brien Dive Well, it was clear that while the sport has lost a legend, his influence remains deeply woven into the culture and future of the Nadadores. And with each spring invitational, his memory will continue to be honored in the best way possible—through the spirit, dedication, and joy of the athletes he so deeply inspired.
