London Olympics 2012: Diver Katie Bell Beat Odds To Make It In Diving - And Life

Before Clintonville native and Ohio State graduate Katie Bell became a world-class diver, she had to overcome something much more daunting than tough competition.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, which chronicled Bell's story in this article, the 24-year-old was born three weeks too early. Weighing just three pounds, four ounces, doctors didn't give her much of a chance:

"The doctor said I wasn't going to live," Bell said....

[D]octors were concerned about Katie's failure to gain weight. After two weeks, she had gained only 4 ounces.

"She had no meat on her," her father, Chris, said.

Frustrated by the doctors' pessimism, the Bells decided to take Katie home.

"And she thrived," Geri said.

Bell, who will compete in the 10-meter platform in London, also had to battle back from a nasty injury she sustained while diving at OSU. After getting turned around in midair, she landed flat on her stomach, resulting in a punctured lung, separated chest cartilage and ribs that popped out of place.

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