Whiz Kid of the Week: Sophia McAfee

We are asking for your nominations for Whiz Kid of the Week, so suggest a special San Marino kid, teen or youth group in the comment box below! Read more about nominations .

This week's San Marino Whiz Kid is Sophia McAfee. Sophia has felt at home in the water since the age of seven when she began taking basic swimming lessons. She started diving shortly after when her coach saw her watching the divers at the other end of the pool.

Sophia's dad Preston is Yahoo's Chief Economist, mom Kristine is an attorney and an older sister Elizabeth is on the swim team at the Rose Bowl. The family has three pets: Sienna (dog), Razzle (cat) and Shelley (turtle). Sophia enjoys traveling around the world with her family and rock scrambling--similar to rock climbing--and bouldering.

• Whiz Kid’s Name: Sophia McAfee

• Whiz Kid’s Age: 8

• Whiz Kid’s School: Polytechnic School in Pasadena

• Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Sophia won the gold medal in the nine-and-under in diving at the AAU nationals. She competed in the one-meter springboard as a member of the Rose Bowl Divers.

• Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Sophia’s love for the water started early--age seven! Although she didn’t start off diving, she had already begun testing the water with basic swimming lessons. She was always daring and loved doing flip turns and back flips. Her coach noticed that Sophia had an eye for the divers at the opposite end and suggested she give it a shot. It was love at first dive.

But the true key to Sophia’s awesomeness is not just how she got into the sport; it’s the amount of time, energy, and dedication she puts into being the very best. The technique for every dive is unique and requires great care and extensive practice. Because of this, the wrong landing is more than just an error in technique, but incredibly painful.  The confidence that she displays in practicing every dive despite past failures is truly a testament to the incredible perseverance that Sophia displays day in and day out.

Perseverance and dedication are only a part of the puzzle that makes Sophia so awesome. I have found in the many articles I have submitted on the Whiz Kids of our great community that the lessons of humility run deep in the San Marino tradition. Sophia continues this tradition in recognizing that without the support of her family, the understanding of her parents and the encouragement of the other divers on her team she would not be where she is today. Moreover, she always reminds herself that her coaches have made her passion a reality. Their mentorship and guidance not only push her to test the limits of her own courage, but to also be there to provide instruction necessary to make sure she’s safe. She would particularly like to thank Coach Cristina Perovich who has been incredibly supportive and encouraging: "I wouldn't be where I am without her."

Bonus Whiz Kid Info:

Favorite food: Dumplings from Ding Tai Fong

Last Book Read for Pleasure: The Harry Potter series

If you had power to change one thing and make the world a better place, what would that be?: I would help people in need and make sure that homeless people have shelter.