SNOHOMISH — At 13 years old, Claire Butler received some tough news.

Her gymnastics career was essentially over due to an elbow injury. All those daily hours of pushing herself in the gym — done.

Years later, that nightmare turned into a dream realized when she became a state diving champion.

Now a senior at Glacier Peak High School, the former gymnast won the Class 4A state diving title at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Swim & Dive meet Saturday at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.

Her climb to the top of the podium symbolized years of hard work put into her unanticipated new sport, in which she became a four-time state placer and champion.

“The other three years, I’ve been on the podium and always had my eye out for first,” said Butler, who finis

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