Diving Back In: Miami Alum Pei Lin

The first thing that caught Pei Lin's attention when she arrived at Miami University from China was the snow.

"We walked outside, and it was snowing, and I'm like, 'oh my God!' I was so excited: I was like a five-year-old kid seeing snow," Lin said.

Growing up in Shantou City, China, Lin had never seen snow before coming to Oxford. It was the first change in what would be a dramatic shift, leaving her home country to pursue her sport abroad.

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As a child, Lin overflowed with energy. She didn't like to be stuck in a classroom, but instead loved running around outside, jumping and flipping.

To help Lin burn some of this extra energy, her mother began taking Lin to dive with a former diving coach. What started as a fun pastime quickly became a passion. Lin began training for eight or nine hours a day while still working on her school studies.

"It definitely taught me who I am and built my personality to become a very self-disciplined and self-managing person," said Lin.

Lin's skills rapidly developed, which eventually led to her winning a Chinese national championship.

She then arrived at Miami in January 2015 after spending her freshman year at a university in China.

Why Miami?

"I wanted to surround myself in an environment knowing that I can grow," Lin said. "It's a different experience to me, so I know that by putting myself in that environment I can grow a little bit better."

And grow she did, going from Mid-American Conference (MAC) Diver of the Year in her first season to multiple national runner-up finishes at the NCAA Division I Championships in her favorite event, the three-meter dive.

"Pei flourished in the Miami Swimming and Diving program every year that made her the most decorated women's diver in the history of our program," said head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron. "Her accomplishments both at the conference and NCAA levels were a tremendous reflection of her daily commitment and dedication.

"I am beyond proud to have been able to see her compete at the highest levels and thrive as a student-athlete at Miami University."

While diving, Lin primarily focused on competing against herself, always trying to improve upon her scores.

"You weren't really distracted by the people watching you dive," Lin said. "You were more competing for yourself, as an individual, to see what you can do as an athlete."

This mentality led Lin to a great deal of success at Miami. By the time she graduated, Lin had earned three All-American honors, won four MAC championships in the three-meter dive, and claimed three MAC titles in the one-meter dive.

Despite all the accolades, what Lin was most proud of was the relationships she created with the people she met at Miami.

"At Miami, I had a very close group of friends that every time we competed at the rec center, they would always be there cheering for me. And I think that's the moment that I will remember and cherish forever."

Lin left Oxford in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Public Health. Since then, she has continued her journey into the world of diving.

Lin began coaching by serving two years as a graduate assistant diving coach at Ohio State. She then progressed to become the head diving coach at the University of South Dakota for the 2021-22 season. This led to her current role, as Lin became the head diving coach at the University of California (Berkeley) in April 2022.

"My favorite part of being a coach is to see the younger people grow," Lin said. "When they struggle, I'm there, and when they're happy, I'm there. And seeing them become whoever they want to become is something very amazing."

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the MAC is honoring the top 50 female student-athletes in MAC history throughout the year. Based on her accomplishments during her time as a RedHawk, Lin was named as one of these 50.

Lin hopes to further the legacy of Title IX by continuing to grow the opportunity for people in sports.

"It is an honor that I am actually in a position to help gain more opportunities for females and for the next generations," Lin said. "I just want to help the younger generations: whoever wants to be a successful diver or challenge themselves to be one of the best divers in the world."

Find more Front Row Features at MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures.

Miami Swimming and Diving hosts the 2022 Miami Invitational Dec. 1-3 at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center in Oxford. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. each day, and admission is free.

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