Cari Griffin
ATHLETIC BACKGROUND
Cari was a nationally competitive high level gymnast from 2008-2010, winning national gold medals on beam and floor in 2009. In 2012, Cari transitioned into springboard and platform diving after a major overuse injury in 2010 that spanned over two years. She went on to become a nationally competitive springboard diver before she was recruited to compete for San Jose State University. During her time at San Jose State University from 2014-2018, Cari held All-Conference Diving Honors, All-Conference Scholar-Athlete, and was three-time SJSU diver of the year. Her greatest accomplishments were breaking school records on all three boards (1 meter, 3 meter and platform) which she still holds. After graduating from San Jose State University in 2018, Cari began weightlifting under David Griffin through the Athlete Transition Program with USA Weightlifting. Since 2018, Cari has become a three-time 49kg Texas State Champion, a three-time 49kg University National Medalist, a North American Open Series 1 Medalist, and the 2020 & 2021 Under 25 49kg National Champion.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
In 2014, Cari began coaching diving under Robert Wimberly at Delta Valley Diving in Stockton, Ca., and in 2016, went on to run a high school diving program for 3 seasons at Mountain View High School in Mountain View, Ca. Cari was also an assistant coach at Santa Clara Diving Club in Santa Clara, Ca., where she worked with divers between the ages of 8 to 18. During her time at SJSU, Cari studied Humanities, and Child and Adolescent Development. Cari began coaching weightlifting in 2019 while working toward her MA in Communications. Since 2018, she has coached athletes to Under 25 and Junior National Championships, as well as multiple Texas State medalists in 2020. Cari is currently continuing her educational pursuits in Exercise Science at Austin Community College. Cari’s goal in working with the University of Texas Weightlifting Team is to help create greater and more vast opportunities for college students to compete at a collegiate level beyond those offered by the NCAA. Furthermore, she is eager to not only help grow the sport of weightlifting but to help individuals gain greater life experiences that will aid them in their future endeavors.