Originally sourced: http://www.diving.asn.au/news/

KEENEY AND BEDGGOOD STAND TALL ON DAY OF DIVING DRAMA

PUBLISHED SUN 29 MAY 2016 

Divers Maddison Keeney and Domonic Bedggood were the stand-out performers on another drama-filled day at the Rio qualification event in Melbourne.

Keeney was dominant in a world-class 3-metre springboard final and looks almost certain to be heading to her first Olympics.

And Bedggood finished well ahead in the men’s platform final to consolidate his position as Australia’s number one 10-metre diver.

The drama came in the women’s 3-metre, when Commonwealth Games gold medallist Esther Qin recorded a no dive and finished fourth, leaving her Olympic selection chances in the hands of selectors.

Likewise in the women’s 3-metre springboard, where Qin and Samantha Mills, the reigning world championship bronze medallists, were beaten by Keeney and Anabelle Smith.

Qin and Mills earned Australia it’s Olympic quota at last year’s event.

But while drama was unfolding all around her, Keeney held her nerve.

“I didn’t have to do anything special in order to qualify, and I don’t think I did anything special,” Kenney said.

“I was able to hold my nerve and come out with a good performance. I know that I can do better though and that’s what I strive for.”

I’ve been practicing really hard to fix my nerves, and taking everything into account I’m just really happy with where I’ve come from and what I’m doing now.”

Bedggood also found it hard to talk up his performance, even though he finished well ahead of his nearest rivals.

“Everyone’s emotions are on a roller coaster,” Bedggood said.

“Technically I ticked all the criteria, but personally I was a bit disappointed because I know I can do better than I did.

“It was a bit of a shame for me not to be able to perform the kind of dives I know I’m capable of.”

Bedggood is not wiling yet to start thinking about Rio.

“I won’t believe it until my name is in ink,” he said.

“I’ve got to keep my fingers crossed until Tuesday, until I get that phone call.”

Smith said winning the 3-metre synchro and opening the door for possible Olympic selection has been a long time coming.

“It’s been really stressful,” Smith said.

“Having our nomination trials being one event has taken a toll on everybody.

“It’s been a long preparation, so to come out and perform pretty well in synchro with Maddi has been a great reward for all our effort.”

Australia has qualified two divers in each of the individual event and a women’s 3-metre synchro team for Rio, with selectors expected to finalise the team by Friday.

THIRD OLYMPICS BECKONS FOR DIVER MELISSA WU

PUBLISHED SAT 28 MAY 2016 

Two time Olympian Melissa Wu looks set to go to her third Olympics after a dramatic day of diving at the Rio qualification tournament in Melbourne.

Wu dominated all three rounds of the 10-metre platform competition, posting comfortable wins and meeting all the criteria required to earn nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee.

But there was drama elsewhere, with Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben forced to withdraw from the platform final after just two dives with a shoulder injury.

The 20-year-old has asked selectors to consider ‘extenuating circumstances’ before ruling her out of Olympic selection.

Selectors will also have a tough task deciding who will represent Australia in the men’s springboard, with 2012 Olympian, James Connor, 2014 Commonwealth Games medallist Grant Nel, and recently naturalised Australian, Kevin Chavez, all in the mix.

Although Nel won the final, Chavez was the most consistent diver and Connor outscored Nel in the preliminary and semi-final events.

Australian diving selectors have discretion, as long as divers have met all the required criteria.

Wu said going to a third Olympics will be incredible.

“It mean so much to me,” she said.

“I’m just so excited. To be able to do it once was amazing, but this will be my third. I’ve been to Rio, I’ve seen the Olympic venue, I think it will be an amazing Olympics.”

It will be the continuation of an incredible journey for Wu, who first burst onto the Australian sporting scene as a 13-year-old at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

She’ll go to Rio as the most experienced and one of the oldest members of the team.

“I can’t believe I went from being one of the youngest for so long, to being one of the oldest,” she said.

“It’s nice though to be able to help the younger ones, and share some of my experiences and help them along the way.”

The women’s 3-metre springboard and men’s platform finals will be contested on Sunday, with Maddison Keeney, Anabelle Smith, Esther Qin and Georgia Sheehan all vying for the two positions available in the springboard.

Commonwealth Games synchro gold medallist, Domonic Bedggood will start favourite in the platform, with the contest for the second position wide open.