Now-senior diver Hailey Casper descends into the water during an ASU dive practice. (Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)Two shoulder surgeries and a lack of belief could not keep Hailey Casper down.
After redshirting her sophomore year because of an overuse shoulder injury that started in high school, Casper lacked faith in her abilities. After rallying through another overuse injury in her shoulder during the end of her junior season, she embraced the challenge and has eyes set on her ultimate goal of competing in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Casper was born in Canada and had her first diving lesson when she was 9.
"It was for fun, but then all of the sudden my talent just exploded," she said.
She said the 2004 Olympics were fun to watch, but the 2008 Olympic Trials was when she realized diving was more than just a hobby; it was something she was truly passionate about.
"I remember watching the 2004 Olympics and getting to train with an Olympic medalist from those games," she said. "However, 2008 was when the dream started, because I had a better sense of the drive and determination I needed to reach my goal."
Before coming to ASU, Casper competed for the Canadian Junior National team from 2007 and dove in various international competitions for the Canadian Senior National team in 2009.
Even with the previous diving experience at a big stage, she said her freshman year was a difficult adjustment because she struggled with the overuse injury in her shoulder suffered before she came to ASU, making it tough to get into a rhythm and perform to her standards.
"I was coming from Canada and international competition to the NCAA," Casper said. "It's a completely different ball game."
Although Casper labored through the injury during her first year, it became too much to handle in her sophomore year and she made the best long-term decision for herself.
"It was a tough decision at the time because I knew I'd be missing a year, but I was happy I received a redshirt," she said. "It was really best for me to get surgery, which I knew would benefit me in the long run."
The year off was one of the most difficult times in her diving career, though.
"I didn't have a positive attitude and I really lost belief in my talent and my abilities," she said. "It was a really tough time because I was down on myself."
She returned her junior year and performed well until the same overuse injury haunted her in February before the Pac-12 Championships, but she rallied through the rest of the season and international meets before having her second shoulder surgery in July 2014.
"It's easy to get down when you're not doing what you love, but I worked so hard in the weight room this past fall to get back to where I want to be," Casper said. "I've just been doing everything in my control and staying as positive as I can."
Casper, who is still rehabbing, has competed in the 1-meter all season, but because of the injury, only returned to the 3-meter dive this January. As a redshirt senior with ample experience, she's taking it upon herself to be a leader for the younger divers.
"I lead by example and make myself available to all of them," she said. "We're a young group, but they have totally embraced the Sun Devil Way."
About two weeks ago, she placed second in the championship round of the 3-meter dive at the Canadian National Diving Championships, which is one of the events that determines who Canada will send to the this summer's Pan Am games and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
"We have a really strong group of girls on the national team and that meant a lot because it was the highest I've ever placed in Nationals and is a stepping stone to my ultimate goal of competing in the 2016 Olympics."
Casper said the biggest difference between her freshman self and now is her increased self-confidence, also noting diving coach Mark Bradshaw's positive influence — she said she is a completely different person.
"I have a much greater belief in my abilities, and my coach has had a huge part in it," she said. "I learned to believe in myself and my potential."
One aspect of diving she has adopted and developed is the idea of a mental game. She said she competes with "conviction," or confidence, ferocity and intensity.
The redshirt senior said she even says the word "conviction" in her head during meets to get her in the zone.
"I'm a good athlete and I have a lot going for me physically, but it's all mental," Casper said. "When I'm on fire, I'm competing with conviction."
Looking ahead, Casper hopes to fare better in the Pac-12 Championships, NCAA Championships and the Zone E Diving Championships to end the season.
"I've never really had a great performance at the Pac-12 Championships or the NCAA Championships," she said. "I want to be more consistent with my performance, because they will be my last Pac-12s and NCAAs."
Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or on Twitter @justintoscano3.
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