GREENVILLE, North Carolina, April 9. AFTER a two-week battle with blood pressure issues in the hospital, former Indiana diver Mark Lenzi has passed away today at the age of 43 according to a multitude of Facebook posts by those in Lenzi's social circle.
One of the most decorated divers in Indiana history, Lenzi won back-to-back NCAA titles in the 1-meter in 1989 and 1990. He was named NCAA Diver of the Year both seasons and added five Big Ten titles to those awards. After graduation he continued diving and preparing for the 1992 Olympic Games. Lenzi was the 1991 and 1992 Phillips 66 Diver of the Year. At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Lenzi won the gold medal on the three-meter springboard by 31 points, defeating China's Tan Liangde and Russian Dmitri Sautin. He was named the World Springboard Diver of the Year and was an AAU Sullivan Award nominee and finalist.
Following the Barcelona Games, Lenzi retired from competition. In 1994, he earned a private pilot's license from ComAir Aviation Academy. Lenzi decided to take another shot at the Olympics, coming out of retirement in 1995. He competed in numerous international competitions in preparation for the Games. At the 1996 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials, despite an injured shoulder, he qualified second on the three-meter springboard while setting the world record in the process. At the Olympic competition in Atlanta, again with an injured shoulder, he won a bronze. Lenzi received degrees in General Studies (1990) and Telecom (1997) from IU.
Lenzi most recently served as the head diving coach at East Carolina University.
Funeral arrangements have been made for Lenzi:
Mark Lenzi Funeral Service
Tuesday, April 10th
From 6-8pm
Wilkerson Funeral Home
2100 East 5th street
Greenville, NC 27834
Phone: (252) 752-2101
Mailing Address: Wilkerson Funeral Home
P.O. Box 2245
Greenville, NC 27836
If you would like to e-mail a message to Mark's wife Dorothy or his family, please click on the link http://www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com/obituaries.php?page=0&query=
Hotel: Tuesday night
Courtyard Greenville
2225 Stantonsburg Road (US 264)
Greenville, North Carolina 27834
1-252-329-2900
Mark Lenzi Group Block = $99/night with breakfast coupon
Mark's and Dorothy's Address:
Dorothy Lenzi
207 Westwood Dr.
Greenville, NC 27834