Sarah Bacon Coach

Sarah Bacon, born on September 20, 1996, in Indianapolis, Indiana is an American diver. She began her diving career in 2004 and quickly made a name for herself in 2014. That year, Bacon was honored as the NISCA All-American Champion and triumphed in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events at the Junior National Diving Championships.

She also won the 1-meter event at the AT&T Senior National Diving Championships and was the team captain at the FINA World Junior Diving Championships. Standing at 5 feet 4 inches and weighing 118 pounds, Bacon competes in the 3-meter springboard and 3-meter synchronized events. She represents the United States in diving and trains with the Minnesota Diving Academy while competing for the University of Minnesota.

Sarah Bacon Coach

Sarah Bacon's coach is Wenbo Chen. Chen works with the University of Minnesota's diving program and is also an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Diving team. Chen has been instrumental in Bacon's development and success, along with his colleague Yu Zhou.

Wenbo Chen is a diving coach with an extensive career. Originally from Beijing, China, Chen was a top young diver in his home country, competing at the Chinese National Championships and winning the Chinese Junior Nationals title in 1976. After completing his education at Beijing Sports University, he coached the Chinese National Diving Team from 1983 to 1991, guiding Olympic medalists and World Championship winners.

Chen moved to the United States and became the National Training Center coach for USA Diving in 2005, where he worked with top divers preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was also a coach at Purdue University before joining the University of Minnesota's diving program.

Quick Facts on Sarah Bacon's Coach

Wenbo Chen Wife

Wenbo Chen is married to Wenyin Han, a former Chinese ballerina. The couple has two daughters: Amy Yao and Annie Yuan.

Wenbo Chen Coaching Career

Wenbo Chen has built a distinguished coaching career in diving. Since August 2009, he has served as the Diving Coach at the University of Minnesota, where he has been pivotal in shaping the university's diving program. Alongside this role, he has been involved with the Minnesota Diving Academy, nurturing emerging talent in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Chen’s previous roles include his time as Head Diving Coach at USA Diving from August 2005 to August 2009, where he prepared elite divers for major international competitions. His tenure at USA Diving included coaching the 2008 Olympic Team, where his athletes achieved notable results: Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse placed 4th in Women’s 3M Synchro, while Haley Ishimatsu finished 5th in Women’s 10M Synchro and 14th in Women’s 10M.

Before joining USA Diving, Chen was the Head Diving Coach at Purdue University from August 2001 to August 2005. He played a key role in advancing the diving program and coaching several successful athletes. Chen’s coaching journey began at Moss Farms Diving, where he served as Head Diving Coach from August 1996 to August 2001.

Wenbo Chen Record

Wenbo Chen's coaching career is marked by several impressive achievements and contributions. As a coach for USA Diving, Chen played a pivotal role in the 2008 Olympics. Under his guidance, the team achieved notable results, including a 4th place finish in Women’s 3M Synchro by Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse, and a 5th place finish in Women’s 10M Synchro by Haley Ishimatsu. Additionally, Chen’s coaching led to a Silver Medal for Kelci Bryant in Women’s 3M Synchro at the 2012 Olympics.

Wenbo Chen Awards & Achievement

Wenbo Chen has received numerous accolades throughout his distinguished coaching career. He was named Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year in 2004, 2010, 2013, and 2015, reflecting his sustained excellence and impact on the diving programs at Purdue University and the University of Minnesota. In 2011, Chen was honored with the NCAA Diving Coach of the Year award, further recognizing his exceptional contributions to collegiate diving.