Hi, my name is Keira Lu, and I’m a springboard diver and sophomore at Duke University studying International Relations. I started diving when I was seven years old, and the sport has shaped so much of who I am today.
My family means everything to me, and I deeply value the close relationships I’ve built with my teammates and friends. Through my journey, I hope to inspire others to be confident in who they are, to chase even their most challenging dreams, and to stay true to their values along the way.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and share my journey as a PlaySafe Athlete Ambassador. I’m excited to use this platform to connect with others, give back to the sport community, and hopefully inspire young athletes to approach their own journeys with confidence, kindness, and heart.
Blogs
Finding Joy, Community, and Perspective Through Sport
May, 2026
In 2016, I had the opportunity to travel to Cuba for a training camp and competition in my
coach’s hometown of Matanzas. I thought it would feel like a mini vacation, training somewhere
new, seeing a different part of the world, but it ended up changing how I see sport entirely.
From the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of community. When we got to the pool, I saw how different it was from what I was used to, older, worn down, and limited resources. Many of the
divers trained and went to school there, most of them far from their families. It made me realize just how much I had taken for granted. But what stuck with me most was the people. I met divers who welcomed us with so much energy and kindness, despite the language barrier. We found ways to connect over sport, card games, and a lot of hand signals. And that’s the power of sport. It’s not just about facilities or resources, it’s about feeling included, valued, and part of something bigger. When I came home, I started thinking more intentionally about the kind of teammate I wanted to be. I didn’t want to focus necessarily on winning, on the drama, and definitely not on politics (something I learned about later in my career), but on the joy that sport
brings.
I’ve always felt a sense of responsibility towards younger athletes, something I definitely get from my mom, and over time, that feeling grew into a mentoring role on my team. It’s become one of the most meaningful parts of my experience in sport. Being a mentor has taught me patience, empathy, and how much impact seemingly small actions can have on others. Through that, I’ve started to understand that mentoring and leadership kinda go hand in hand. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to lead. For me, leadership often looks like leading by example and creating an environment where others feel supported and confident. With that being said, there are also moments where I can use my voice, and that’s during competitions where I’m usually the loudest cheerleader on deck. But whether it’s through energy and cheering or quieter, everyday actions, the intention is the same: making sure the people around me feel seen and supported.
To me, that’s a big part of psychological safety; knowing the people around you genuinely have your back. I think that’s a big reason I make an effort to be that for other people because that was something I missed in the last couple years of my junior career. Before I left for college, I was struggling being coached by someone whose image depended on how I performed. Not a genuine feeling of wanting to see me succeed.
I am very grateful to now have a supportive coach and team around me and I think that makes all the difference. I have been able to have fun, perform well, and find a love again for the sport that I began to lose a passion for.
As a student-athlete, I’ve also learned how important it is to take care of yourself beyond performance. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of doing well in both sport and in school, but stepping away is just as important as showing up. Whether it’s going for a walk, listening to music, or spending time with friends, giving yourself time to just be human matters. One message I wish I had heard more when I was younger is this: sport can be a huge part of your life, but it is not your entire life. Sometimes you won’t perform the way you had hoped, but that
doesn’t define you, and it’s not the end of your journey. You will have many more opportunities to grow.
I’ve also learned to embrace change, even when it’s uncomfortable. Change is hard, but it shapes who we become. In a lot of ways, that’s how I feel about being a PlaySafe Ambassador. I feel pressure to do well in this role, but I’ve come to see that as something positive. It means I care, and it means I’m part of something bigger than myself. This experience has also pushed me to be more confident in myself. I’m still working on it, but I’m learning that leadership doesn’t look just one way. It can be loud, or it can be quiet and consistent. It can be through words, or through actions.
At the end of the day, safe sport is about people. It’s about creating environments where athletes feel supported, respected, and free to be themselves whether that’s in a high-performance facility or somewhere with far fewer resources. Although this is just a snippet of my life in and out of sport, I’ve learned that the heart of sport is connection. And that’s something we all have the power to create.
Ambassador Socials
Check out my social posts for my January feature month!
- Root Cellar (January 23)
- Community (January 29)
- Day in the life (February 3)
If you’re interested in following my journey, you can find me here!