Maddison Keeney has so many reasons to be nervous ahead of the Barcelona FINA World Championships.
Firstly, the 17-year-old Western Australian is competing in her first major senior International event.
Secondly, she’ll be attempting dives that are high risk but high reward.
And thirdly, well, she has school studies to worry about.
Yes, while her teammates will all be taking the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and excitement of a World Championships, Keeney will be using her downtime to study for her year 12 exams.
She’s not phased by it. When she competed at the Australian selection trials in Brisbane last month she spent almost every minute out of the pool cramming for exams back in Perth later that week.
Not only did she qualify for the Australian team, but she also ‘did pretty good, better than I expected’ at her exams.
Keeney is at this stage entered in the 3-metre springboard synchro with Queensland’s Sherilyse Gowlett. But she’s also hoping to get the nod to compete in the 1-metre individual springboard.
Selectors had almost typed her name in for the event at the selection trials. Going into her final dive, she was streets ahead of the remainder of the field and heading for a big score.
Then disaster struck. Keeney misjudged her take-off, slipped on the end of the board, and recorded a no jump. She was devastated.
But she then impressed selectors by regaining her composure to win the synchro event with Gowlett. That convinced selectors she has the determination not to wilt under pressure.
And then there’s her dives. Maddison Keeney attempts dives off the 1-metre springboard very few other divers would be game to do. High risk, but high points if she nails them.
“I do them because my coach tells me to do them, and believes that I can do them,” Keeney says.
“I do more somersaults than other divers. I’m excited because I might get the chance to show everyone I’ve got the potential to do these dives.
“But I’m also nervous because I’m going to give it a go.”
She hopes so, anyway. Keeney has been training for the 1-metre springboard,and Australian selectors have made clear they intend selecting someone from the squad to compete in this non-Olympic event.
Diving was not Keeney’s first choice sport as a youngster.
“I did a lot of sports,” she says.
“Athletics, hockey, basketball, skiing – and then mum suggested I try diving. I’ve loved it ever since.”
The Perth-based dive has had to deal with issues of isolation throughout her career. Pretty well all of the Australian squad is based in Brisbane, and Keeney intends moving there after she’s finished her exams at the end of this year.
“It’ll be hard to leave Perth, but it’s what I have to do,” she says.
“I really want to make the Commonwealth Games team next year, and then there’s Rio of course.
“My parents have been really supportive all the way along, because they know I work hard.”
So yes, Maddison Keeney has lots of reasons to feel nervous ahead of Barcelona. And by her own admission, her legs ‘turn to jelly’ during competition.
But so many people, from her parents to her coaches to the hard-nosed Australian selectors, have spotted a unique talent. And now the world is also about to see it.
– written by Ross Solly for the sports blog: Every4Yearz
