Ariel comes from an Olympic background. Her mother, Sharon, is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. She won a silver medal in the 1964 Olympics in the 400 IM, held nine world records and won gold at the 1963 Pan Am Games. Ariel’s uncle Mike Finneran, Sharon’s brother, was a diver in the 1972 Olympic Games, and her grandmother, Carolyn Finneran, was a team manager for the 1976 Olympic swim team.
Interview with Ariel Rittenhouse:
What came first – homeschooling or your sport? Were you already homeschooled or did you begin homeschooling to meet your training requirements?
Diving came first for me. When I moved to Indianapolis to train, the schedule would not allow for me to go to school so I began homeschooling.
Tell us a little more about your homeschooling. Do your parents teach you, do you have a tutor, do you do online schooling? What curriculum do you use?
I do online schooling. I use Halstrom International Online High School. I follow the required curriculum of a normal school.
Is your family part of a homeschool support group? Do you participate in any homeschooling activities, classes or field trips?
My mom's family has homeschooled most of their children. My uncle Matthew Finneran coaches all sports for the home schooled kids around Raleigh, North Carolina. I am so busy with my Olympic diving pursuits that I have little time for anything outside my on line classes.
What strategies do you use to keep focused and manage your time? Do you do all your schooling in a "block" of time, or one subject now and another one whenever?
For my online school, I do classes every week and I have a set schedule. I have to finish my homework that they give me. I do all my homework just like I would as if I were actually attending school and finish my homework before my next class.
Are there any components that you end up short-cutting or eliminating altogether (like library time, report writing, other things that can take up loads of time)?
There is not anything that I can short cut or eliminate because I'm following normal curriculum.
It is often said that homeschoolers are isolated and lack social skills. With your homeschooling experience, what is your opinion of this? As an Olympic hopeful, how have you overcome this so-called handicap?
For me personally, I do not believe that I am isolated and lack social skills because in place of school I am doing a sport and on a team that requires social interaction. I go on diving trips all the time and I have friends from all around the world. My online schooling does not inhibit my social skills in any way.
How has homeschooling helped you, both academically and with your sports career?
Homeschooling has helped tremendously. My online school works with my schedule so that I am able to be gone for long periods of time for my diving trips and they work around my absence and I do not fall behind in academics. I am able to keep up with my schoolwork and do all that is required for my sports career. This was impossible to do when I was in so called "normal school."
What obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are today?
The obstacles I have had to overcome are moving across the country to be able to fulfill my diving dreams, leaving my friends and then leaving my home in Santa Cruz, California, my California lifestyle, and my dad. My dad had to stay in California because of his line of work and it has been very tough to be apart from him so much of the time.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your chosen sport?
Outside of diving I love to read, dance, and cook.
What do you like to do to unwind?
To unwind I like to just lie on the couch and watch T.V. and relax, listen to music, and talk to friends.
How has your journey to the Olympic team affected your family?
My journey to the Olympics has really affected my family. My mom moved out to Indianapolis with me so that I could train, but my Dad had to stay in California to work. He comes to visit as much as possible, but it is never enough for us. Moving away from all my brothers and sister in California has been tough even though they are grown and living on their own. We are a close family and being so far apart has not been easy.
What are your educational and lifelong goals? Do you feel that your homeschooling has prepared you for these goals?
I plan on going to college and earning a degree, or possibly an MBA. I am not exactly sure of what I would like to do but I am thinking of something in the area of sports medicine, a business degree, or possibly law school. I believe that whatever area I choose my homeschooling has definitely prepared me for my goals. I have learned just as much, if not more in my online school than I was in my old highschool. Homeschooling has been the best option for me because with my sport I am able to keep up with my academics and learn to the best of my ability. I love home schooling! I could not be where I am today if it wasn't for home school.
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In 2004, Rittenhouse moved to Southern California to train with future Olympian Rachel Kunkel under coach Hongping Li at the University of Southern California’s Trojan Dive Club. Under Li, she won her first Speedo National Junior Championship on the 10-meter platform and learned a full pike list on the 3-meter. After two years with Hongping, she moved to the U.S. National Training Center to dive under coach Wenbo Chen and train for the 3-meter synchro event. Under Wenbo Chen, Rittenhouse has won a world cup silver medal for the 3-meter synchro event, a Grand Prix silver, and a Superfinal Grand Prix gold medal with partner Kelci Bryant.
