Brittany dives in for Brittany on Australian Olympic Team

Diver Brittany O’Brien has been called into the Australian Olympic Team to contest the women’s 10m platform in Rio, replacing fellow NSWIS diver Brittany Broben who was forced to withdraw from the event with a shoulder injury.

It was made public on July 29 that Broben would not take part in the 2016 Rio Olympics, with a further injury setback thwarting her efforts to be ready for Rio. You can read more here.

At just 18-years of age, O’Brien’s will make her Olympic debut, the call up coming courtesy of her second place finish in the 10m platform event at this year’s 2016 National Championships. She finished second to Beijing Olympic silver medallist Melissa Wu (NSWIS) at nationals and will now line up alongside her at the Olympics.

O’Brien is a relatively new face to senior diving competition, but has shown good form in the past two years, producing a pair fourth placed finishes at both the 2015 Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur (synchronised) and 2016 Grand Prix in San Juan, Puerto Rico (individual).

Taking to social media to express her delight at being selected, O’Brien was equally excited and conscious of the circumstances surrounding her admission to the team, expressing empathy for London silver medallist Broben.

The women’s 10m platform preliminary rounds commence on Wednesday August 17, with the final to be held on Friday August 19. The diving takes place at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in the Barra precinct of Rio de Janeiro.