User:Patrickkkkkkk/AmandaVanderbilt

Amanda Vanderbilt (born July 21, 1990 in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA) is an internationally competitive diver and former gymnast from American and French descent.

Vanderbilt began diving after a cartilage injury in her right knee took her out of the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. Prior to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, she trained with coaches Jay Lerew and Mark Ruiz in Orlando, Florida. She made a surprise appearance at the 2003 FINA World Championships at the age of 13, making her the youngest international competitor at the time. In her first international competition, Vanderbilt took silver on the individual one meter springboard, gold in the ten meter platform event, and bronze in the ten meter synchronized event with fellow Orlando teammate Brittany Viola.

Vanderbilt and Viola were named as alternates to the 2004 Olympic team in the ten meter synchronized event. After a controversy with the registration of Australian Loudy Tourky, the pair competed in the re-do of the event. The controversy was later reversed after extensive analysis of the situation.

After the Olympics, Vanderbilt competed for France from 2005-2007. While competing for France, Vanderbilt placed 13th at the 2005 World Championships and 8th at the 2007 World Championships. She was unable to compete in 2006 due to a back injury. She was pre-qualified for the 2008 French Olympic team when the French Olympic Committee issued a statement requiring all athletes to reside in the country for two years prior to competition.

In 2007, Vanderbilt returned to American competition and took bronze on the one meter, fourth on platform, and gold on the three meter at USA Nationals. Her performance qualified her for both the US Olympic Trials and the US Olympic Selection Camp. She was later named an alternate to the 2008 Olympic team in the ten meter individual event.

Following the 2008 Olympic Games, it was discovered that Vanderbilt had several compressed, bulging, and ruptured discs in her lower back. She underwent surgeries in November 2008 and January 2009. Two weeks after her second surgery, she returned to competition to final at the 2009 Texas State Championships. Shortly thereafter, another ruptured disc was found in her back and she had a third surgery in June 2009.

In July 2009, Vanderbilt was charged with steroid use after a blood test showed a level of 7% cortisone (0.3% being the legal level for NCAA competition). This was Vanderbilt's second NCAA offense. She was placed on probation for twelve months beginning on August 1, 2009. In September 2009, Vanderbilt received a medical pardon from NCAA.

On September 14, 2009, Vanderbilt verbally committed to Brown University for the 2010-2011 season.