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

Clintonville native and Ohio State graduate Katie Bell will compete in the 10 meter platform at the Olympics. And she's overcome a lot to get there.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Katie Bell of USA in action during the Women's 10m preliminary round at the Aquatics Centre on February 20, 2012 in London, England.  (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Katie Bell of USA in action during the Women's 10m preliminary round at the Aquatics Centre on February 20, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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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.

More SB Nation Olympic coverage available here.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.