San Jose State University Spartans deck diving coach Zsofia Reisinger鈥檚 journey from Team Hungary to the NCAA
SAN JOSE, Calif. — From international competition to NCAA coaching, a former Hungarian national team diver, Zsofia Reisinger, shares lessons on focus, fear, and starting over.
The climb to a 10-meter platform takes only a few steps 鈥� but for Zsofia Reisinger, it represented years of discipline, risk, and focus. A former Hungarian national team diver-turned-NCAA coach now channels her international experience to guide the next generation. In this in-depth conversation, she reflects on fear, mindset, success, and the transition from athlete to mentor.
鈥淚鈥檝e never really been scared of heights,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut you always know 鈥� if you don鈥檛 do it right, the water will tell you.鈥� Today, Reisinger stands on a different side of the pool. No longer chasing judges’ scores, she guides young athletes through the same mental challenges that once defined her career.
The Olympic Spark
Reisinger began diving at age 9 after watching the Olympics on television. She asked her mother if she could try the sport. Within weeks, curiosity turned into commitment.
鈥淚 fell in love with diving very quickly. It became more than just a hobby 鈥� it became my passion.鈥�
She climbed higher platforms almost immediately, drawn not by adrenaline but by a desire to understand movement and control. To spectators, diving is elegance and a breathtaking movement. To athletes, it鈥檚 calculated precision compressed into seconds.
鈥淵ou plan everything before you go,鈥� Reisinger says. 鈥淭hen you take a breath and jump. In the air, you feel where you are and adjust.鈥�
The real challenge is mental.
鈥淚f your mind isn鈥檛 there, the dive won鈥檛 be there either.鈥�
Focus, she explains, isn鈥檛 a personality trait 鈥� it鈥檚 a skill developed through repetition and experience.
Inside the Mind of a Diver
When you鈥檙e standing on the platform, do you ever think about anything outside of diving?
Zsofia Reisinger: No. That鈥檚 the one moment where you have to be completely present. Before the dive, you visualize everything. During the dive, your mind reacts to the movement. There鈥檚 no space for distractions.
Is fear something you learn to control, or is it just personality?
Reisinger: You can train it. When you repeat dives enough times, your body understands what to do, and your mind learns to trust it. Experience makes the fear quieter.
What surprises people about diving at the elite level?
Reisinger: How physical it really is. People see grace, but behind that, there鈥檚 a lot of strength 鈥� legs, core, flexibility, awareness. Every movement is controlled.
Springboard vs. Platform 鈥� Two Different Challenges
Reisinger began her career on a springboard before transitioning to platform diving. While many assume the platform is more difficult, she argues that a springboard can be more technical.
鈥淭he board moves, and timing becomes everything,鈥� she says. 鈥淧latform is fixed 鈥� if your takeoff is right, the dive usually follows.鈥�
Still, platform diving requires a unique mindset.
鈥淵ou always know the consequences of a mistake are bigger, so you learn to trust yourself completely.鈥�
Team, Competition, and Coaching Philosophy
Diving is an individual sport. Does an athlete have a chance to feel like an important part of a team?
Reisinger: Absolutely. You train together every day. A supportive team makes hard moments easier. Even in synchro diving, success depends on chemistry and trust.
As a coach, how do you manage athletes who want more attention?
Reisinger: Every athlete wants the coach鈥檚 focus 鈥� that鈥檚 natural. But effort matters. The athletes who show commitment tend to receive more guidance because they鈥檙e ready to use it.
What do you believe makes an athlete progress faster?
Reisinger: Body awareness and the ability to make changes quickly. Some athletes work hard but struggle to adjust. Those who can adapt in real time usually improve faster.
Behind every clean entry lies explosive power. Divers rely on leg strength for takeoff, core stability for rotation, and flexibility for precision.
鈥淒ivers don鈥檛 train just to look athletic,鈥� Reisinger says. 鈥淭he strength allows you to perform harder dives.鈥�
Sports science has evolved dramatically since her competitive days, especially in nutrition and strength training. Today鈥檚 divers approach preparation with a level of detail she never experienced growing up. One of Reisinger鈥檚 defining career moments came at the European Championships, where she earned a synchronized diving medal shortly after a difficult fall from the 10-meter platform.
鈥淚 was scared,鈥� she admits. 鈥淏ut we pushed through and made history for Hungarian diving.鈥�
The experience reshaped her understanding of resilience 鈥� success wasn鈥檛 just about performance, but about recovering from doubt.
From Athlete to Coach
When did you realize it was time to retire?
Reisinger: After missing Olympic qualification in 2016. My body was in pain, and I felt ready for a new chapter. It wasn鈥檛 sudden 鈥� it was something building over time.
Was the transition difficult?
Reisinger: I was lucky because I started coaching before I stopped competing. Many athletes feel lost after retirement, but I already had a new purpose.
How did California enter the picture?
Reisinger: My husband鈥檚 career brought us here. Coaching is something I can do anywhere, so it felt like a natural move.
Despite her extensive competitive experience, Reisinger describes herself as a 鈥渨ork in progress鈥� as a coach. Working with college athletes has challenged her to evolve, blending discipline with empathy.
鈥淵ou need to push athletes, but you also have to understand where they are mentally and emotionally.鈥�
Her approach reflects a balance between the demanding Eastern European systems she grew up in and the athlete-centered culture of American sports.
What excites you most about coaching right now?
Reisinger: Seeing athletes grow 鈥� not just technically, but as people. Every diver is different, and learning how to help each one to succeed is what keeps coaching interesting.
Where do you see yourself in 30 years?
Reisinger: I hope I鈥檓 still coaching. I feel like my coaching career is just starting, even though I鈥檝e been doing it for years.
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