Loudy Wiggins Athlete
Loudy Wiggins (born 7 July 1979) is an Australian diver. She was born in Haifa, Israel and is of a Palestinian background. She was born to Butros and Afaf Tourky. They came to Australia when Loudy was three. Loudy has commented, "I will always have a bond with Palestine. My life is here but it’s in the back of my mind". Wiggins said she thinks of herself as 100 per cent Australian, although her family stays close to relatives in the Middle East. "All of my immediate family is in Australia, and everyone else back home is safe - we're in contact with them. We keep them updated with my results. " Wiggins was a gymnast at the Australian Institute of Sport, then at age 12 began diving at the suggestion of her physiotherapist. Wiggins finished 19th in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She won bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics 10m synchronised platform, becoming the first Australian to win an Olympic medal in diving since Dick Eve in 1924. She and Rebecca Gilmore were also the first Australian female Olympic diving medalists in the 2000 games. She won bronze in the FINA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka in 2001. She was named Female Australian Diver of the Year for 2001. (Australian Diving 2001). A year later, she won the nationals. That same year she won gold in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games in 10m diving. Wiggins won first place at an unprecedented three successive CAN-AM-MEX FINA Diving Grand Prix competitions in 2003. She finished 2nd in the World Championships 10m synchronised diving. Also in 2003, she was named 2003 Sydney University Sports Woman of the Year and also won the Magpie Wests Ashfield Award. In 2004, after finishing 2nd in the World Cup 10m, Loudy won bronze by herself in the 10m diving at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Another highlight of her career, becoming the first Australian diver to win more than one medal. She was the Head Diving Coach at PLC Aquatic Centre from August 2007, but had to stop due to training commitments. Wiggins was training towards the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but a calf injury suffered during the Olympics selection trials on 13 April 2008 ended her Olympic aspirations. Wiggins has a degree in Media and Communications.