World Champion Diver Strengthens Commonwealth Games Selection Claims

Published On: 18 December 2017

WA diver Maddison Keeney has strengthened her selection claims for the 2018 Commonwealth Games after winning titles in the 1m springboard and 3m synchro finals at the Selection Trials on the Gold Coast.

Having won a maiden world championship title in the 1m event at this year’s FINA Champs in Budapest, Keeney proved too strong in the final of the same event on the Gold Coast, whilst also teaming up with Anabelle Smith to win the 3m synchro final – with the pair reprising their bronze medal effort from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In the 1m final, a quality competition saw 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 3m springboard Esther Qin – push Keeney all the way, with the latter taking first place on 573.60 points ahead of Qin’s total of 560.95.

In the 3m synchro final, Keeney and her Victorian counterpart Smith were a class apart, winning clear of Qin and Georgia Sheehan to all but guarantee their nomination for the Australian team at next year’s Commonwealth Games at the same competition venue.

Keeney and Smith totalled 628.41 points, clear of Qin and Sheehan’s 576.60. Keeney also claimed second place in the individual 3m springboard final, which was won by Smith, with Qin in third place.

In the women’s platform final, WA diver Teju Williamson has placed herself in the team selection conversation with a second place effort behind champion Brittany O’Brien. O’Brien won with a score of 602.35, with Williamson claiming second place on 575.50.

Fellow West Aussie Nikita Hains took fourth place on 531.30 points.

In the 10m synchro, Hains combined with Queenslander Emily Meaney for second place, with the final won by O’Brien and AnnaRose Keating. The victors secured a points total of 592.26 to win ahead of Hains and Meaney’s aggregate of 534.24.

Williamson competed with Queensland’s Caitlyn Bowell, with the duo third on 531.30.

Selections for the women’s 10m events will likely take into consideration the discretionary absence of multiple Olympian Melissa Wu who missed the event through injury.

Wu has previously won international medals across both individual and synchro competitions and would have been considered a strong selection chance had injury not prevented her competing on the Gold Coast.