#Glasgow2014 Preview: Diving

Published On: 22 July 2014

The Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh

The Australian diving team holds lofty expectations for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a squad containing the tried and tested talents of Matthew Mitcham and Melissa Wu, with the raw emerging brilliance of Western Australian diver Maddison Keeney, whom on debut is touted as a future star of the sport.

The Diving program is being hosted at the historic Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, which has undergone refurbishment for this year’s competition, having hosted events in the 1970 and 1986 Games.

For the uninitiated, diving involves far more than a summersault into water from height. Practically all elements of the dive are under the scrutiny of the judging panel, with starting position, take-off, distance from platform (or springboard) and entry all open to scrutiny, to name a few.

In Keeney, WA has an athlete capable of winning gold. It’s risky to ever place expectation on the shoulders of someone so young, and at 18 and on Commonwealth debut, Keeney is undeniably that. She is however, also, undeniably precocious, and produced scores at this year’s selection trials that would’ve earned gold at last year’s World Championships in Barcelona, where she made her worlds debut, with two finals appearances.

Keeney is scheduled to compete in the 1m and 3m springboard events, before partnering Anabelle Smith in the women’s 3m synchro, with the WAIS athlete a genuine medal chance in all events.

Keeney’s first shot at gold will come in the 3m synchro, with a direct final, held on Wednesday July 30, from 2.36am (July 31) Perth time. The women’s 1m springboard follows, with qualifying held at 5.05pm Perth time on August 1, with the final later that night from 1.05am (Aug 2). Keeney’s final event – the 3m springboard – is held August 2, with qualifying again at 5.05pm, with the final following at 1.05pm (Aug 3) Perth time.

Historically, the diving medals have been shared between Australia, Canada and England. However, Malaysia has emerged with medals at the past two Commonwealth Games and is again expected to threaten the podium.

Situated behind the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Holyrood Park is an extinct volcano known to the locals as Arthur’s Seat. Located in Edinburgh, the Pool is also nestled by Castles and glens, making it one of the most desirable visits for fans during the Games.