Noblesville's Boudia setting sights on Rio - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Olympic gold medalist diver David Boudia is back in Indiana, and he's getting a hero's welcome home.

Boudia appeared on the Smiley radio show, and says it's good to unpack after months on the road.

"We went to crazy countries like Dubai, went to Russia, China, Mexico. This is an incredible moment. I mean, a diver traveling around the world. I didn't picture this ten years ago!" he said. "I was astonished. I had no idea I was going to win the gold."

Boudia ended a gold-medal drought for the United States with a dramatic last dive that scored the most points of the 10-meter platform competition at the Olympics. His victory by 1.08 points over Qiu Bo of China gave the USA its first gold in diving since 2000, and was the first by an American man since the late Mark Lenzi won the 3-meter springboard at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The accomplishment has been transformational. Boudia is asked to take pictures and sign autographs even when running errands.

"It's a little different. It's a little weird," he admitted.

But simmering longer is David's interest in new challenges like vaulting. He competed in gymnastics for six years switching to diving in the sixth grade. He now is floating the idea of competing in the Olympics again - in two sports.

He's been talking about vault, so we went with him to his first trip back to the gym with silver medal Beijing Olympic gymnast Sam Peszek.

"I think that he's going to hustle everybody and I think he's a little nervous right now, but I think he's actually going to be really good because shapes in diving are similar, and you are flipping in the air just like you would on vault," said Peszek.

It's been about ten years since Boudia vaulted. He's 23 years old now and stands at 5'9."

Sam marked the spot where to hit and he was ready to land in a pit, not a pool. We advised he might have to add a floor and pommel horse routine.

"I'm in way over my head, but this is fun!" Boudia grinned.

Before long Boudia was moving around the gym and impressing Sam, who says it's not just talk.

"Not with David, no. He likes a challenge and he goes after it," said his mom, Sheilagh Boudia.

There are issues - even given the remote chance he makes it, what if both events coincide? Those are details David says he will figure out when he gets there. But first, he's taking small steps to achieving big dreams in Rio for 2016 - a philosophy that for him so far has been golden.