Labor
and Delivery
by Kelly L. Martinez
If
you’ve ever had a baby in a hospital then you understand the value
of a good labor and delivery nurse. The chaotic atmosphere of
the delivery room is easier to manage with the kind, decisive
and soothing care of a good nurse.
Mothers
that deliver in the California Hospital Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles are likely
to be helped through the birthing process by a young lady from
Utah. With a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in nursing, Rachelle
Smith-Kunkel is well equipped to meet the demands of the delivery
room. Labor and delivery are integral parts of her life … in
and away from the hospital.
In
the hospital her duties in the delivery room bring obvious meaning
to the words ‘labor’ and ‘delivery’. Away from the hospital,
it’s the laborious hours of practice and the resultant deliverance
of world-class performances that give new meaning to the words.
What the expectant mothers under Kunkel’s care probably don’t
realize is that their nurse is a favorite to make the 2004 Women’s
U.S. Olympic Diving Team.
Takin’ a dive
Given
the fact that she never even set foot on a diving board until
she was in high school, Kunkel’s status amongst the world’s divers
is impressive. She competed in track and field at Hunter High
in West Valley, Utah, and learned of diving from a friend who
told her that the school’s team was in need of a few. She tried
out for the team, and, after struggling to grasp the sport, was
tutored by a diver from the University of Utah.
Not
until her senior year did she decide to pursue diving at the collegiate
level. She chose to compete at BYU because of the reputation
of diving coach Keith Russell, who had coached several
All-Americans and was well-known in the diving community for his
coaching ability.
“I
loved the way (Russell) coached,” Kunkel said. “I appreciated
that he was able to keep things simple. He would offer one or
two points of correction, making it simpler for me to focus on
the task at hand.”
Focus
is a key component of Kunkel’s success. She stays focused during
the long periods of time between dives in competition by listening
to music or reading. In college her reading material was centered
on her studies; these days, she is fond of musical selections
by the Dave Matthews Band or other easy listening artists.
 |
"Courtesy
of Ken Redmond Photography" |
Past, present and future
From
1997-99, Kunkel was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference
and Academic All-WAC teams. In 2000, she earned All-Mountain
West Conference and Academic All-MWC honors. Additionally, she
received All-America status in 2000.
After
graduating from BYU, Kunkel was offered an opportunity she couldn’t
refuse. World-renowned diving coach, Hongping Li, approached
her and offered to coach her for free if she would commit three
years to his diving program, The Trojan Dive Club, in Los Angeles.
Her
achievements under Li’s tutelage, and before, are impressive.
Besides making the national team each of the last four years,
Kunkel captured the 3-meter springboard title in Athens, Georgia,
this past April, and, in January, placed second at the Speedo
American Cup in the 3-meter at Indiana University.
During
her diving career, Kunkel has won 1-meter springboard titles at
the U.S. Summer National Diving Championships (1999), the U.S.
Indoor National Diving Championships (2000), and the Speedo National
Diving Championships (2002). Besides her success this year, she
also finished first in the 3-meter competition at the U.S. National
Indoor Diving Championships (2001). Though many of her accomplishments
have come in the 1-meter event, she is focusing on the 3-meter
these days.
With
her eye firmly set on the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece, a big
step toward her objective of making the Olympic team will come
this July 13-27 at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona,
Spain.
Perspective
It’s
her ability to keep things in perspective that helps Kunkel excel
athletically. “I think the key to being able to do well at the
level I am competing at,” she said, “is that I am able to step
back and see things for the big picture. Faith in Heavenly Father’s
plan and a deep trust in Him help me to continue. It is to Him
that I look for help and strength.”
That
inner-strength is bolstered by a rigorous training schedule that
finds Kunkel in the pool five days a week, four to five hours
a day … not to mention her full-time job at the hospital.
Bruinville
Rachelle
and her husband Jeff – who met through mutual friends at
BYU – were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1999 and live in
Los Angeles’ Westside. He goes to dental school at UCLA and she
works in the downtown hospital. The couple teaches their ward’s
Sunbeam class and – while not studying, working or training –
enjoys cooking.
“My
husband is the one that got me excited about cooking,” Rachelle
said. “We love trying new recipes and mixing things up. Mainly,
we like cooking because we love eating!”
Parting dive
Born
the fourth of five children to Kent and Diane Smith,
Rachelle was raised in the Church and credits her parents with
setting a good example spiritually. She feels the opportunity
to serve a full-time mission is something every LDS athlete –
especially male athletes – should not dismiss out of hand.
“It
used to be that athletics was over once you accepted a mission
call,” Rachelle said. “But that’s not the case anymore. If you
want it badly enough, athletics will still be an option after
a mission. It’s part of keeping things in their proper perspective.
If you keep the Lord first, then everything else will take its
place.”
 |
"Courtesy
of Ken Redmond Photography" |
In case you were wondering …
Rachelle’s
favorite dive is the 5152B. For those of us in the shallow end,
the 5152B involves a forward 2 ½ somersault twist and a pike (body
bent at the hips only).
Sounds
fun. I think I’ll just watch, thank you.
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The
updated list of LDS athletes
