At first glance, WAIS diver Josh Ong competing at last month’s Dresden International Youth Diving Meet might seem unremarkable.
As one of over 200 plus WAIS scholarship holders, competing internationally is part of the core business of being an athlete.
For Josh however, the chance to step up to the boards in Germany was only possible in parts to the generous support of the Carbine Club, the Wanneroo City Council, the work of his coach Shannon Roy (and his team of WAIS support staff) and the incredible determination of Josh and his family to juggle the early mornings with school and 100km round daily trips.
For most 16 year-old boys, the prospect of getting out of bed before 5am would resonate as some cruel joke, in Josh’s case, it’s part of a daily routine attached to pre-dawn commutes from his Banksia Grove home, north of Wanneroo, to his second home at Challenge Stadium, where the WAIS Diving Program is based.
But if Josh’s resilience is commendable, that of his mother and siblings is overwhelming. Each morning, Josh’s mum Denice, packs up the family and embarks on the 50km journey south to help her son chase his dream. Denice is a single mother, and as such, her altruism and that of Josh’s brothers and sisters is testament to the drive that pushes the talented athlete’s aspirations for athletic success.
It was this family sacrifice, but ultimately commitment, that inspired the WA Carbine Club to grant Josh a $2500 scholarship for 2014, which in turn allowed Josh to travel to Dresden to compete in his first ever overseas competition. Certainly without it, he would not have been able to compete.
WAIS head diving coach Shannon Roy travelled with his athlete, and commended his performances, particularly after picking up a bug during the flight.
“Unfortunately Josh caught a bug on the flight over and was bed ridden for the first 24 hours,” Roy said. “But he bounced back very quickly and was ready to go by the second day.”
Competing in a strong field, Josh performed well to place 12th in the 3m springboard and 21st in the 1m event, with the former, earning him a spot in the final.
“Overall, regardless of the final results, we are extremely pleased and encouraged with Josh’s performance and his overall approach to this new experience,” Roy said. “He is now even more determined to improve and to become a strong contender within his age group around the world.”
“The experience showed Josh that he can in fact be competitive with his peers from around the globe and it also showed him some of his weaknesses that can be turned around to become his strengths.”
Crucially, Roy – himself an Olympic level diver for Australia – said that the competition had given them plenty of opportunity for improvement in training and future competition.
“Josh’s technique and overall aesthetic appearance stood out from a number of his competitors, but it was his inexperience in clutch situations that got the best of him this time around,” Roy said.
It was of course, this opportunity to gain experience, set against an overwhelming determination to learn and improve that granted Josh this chance in Germany.
Speaking on behalf of Josh and his family, Roy paid tribute to the Carbine Club for their assistance in what will likely prove a significant point in Josh’s development as an elite diver.
“We both want to thank the Carbine Club for their support and belief in Josh as an athlete and we look forward to showing the improved results in the future.”
