She has set numerous records and won national titles. Next, she hopes to be called an Olympian.
Laura Ryan is a diver from the University of Georgia, and she will attempt to qualify for the summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro this year.
Ryan has been diving since the age of 12, but she wasn't instantly Olympic ready. She worked hard for years training 12 hours a day.
"I had to work for it," she said.
PHOTOS | UGA diver Laura Ryan
It was when she was graduating high school that Ryan thought the Olympics could be in her future.
Now that dream of walking out with Team USA in the Opening Ceremony is in her grasp.
"Everytime I think about it, I get the chills," she said. "Because this is something I've thought about my whole life and thought about, one day. it's going to be a reality."
"Now that day is coming."
Being an Olympian doesn't pay the college tuition, though. So Ryan had to get a job.
DICK's Sporting Goods partnered with the U.S. Olympic Committee and decided to hire Olympic hopefuls.
Ryan took advantage of the opportunity, and it paid out in more ways that one.
DICK's featured Ryan and her relentless work ethic in diving in one of their commercials. She was one of just five Olympic hopefuls they featured.
DICK's is also giving Olympians and Paralympians a little extra incentive to go for gold. For every medal the U.S. wins, they will donate $1,000 to youth sports.
"As if I didn't already want to win a medal just to represent my country and hear the national anthem play, now I know that medal could help future Olympians," Ryan said.
Team USA's Olympic qualifying in diving is June 18-26.
