Chavez dives to bronze at FINA World Diving Grand Prix

NSWIS diver Kevin Chavez has claimed bronze for Australia in the 3m springboard at the FINA World Diving Grand Prix at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya, Malaysia.

The result sees Mexican-born Chavez claim his first ever medal for Australia, after becoming a naturalised citizen earlier this year. Chinese diver Xie Siyi won the event, beating compatriot Peng Jianfeng in a pulsating final.

Chavez first came to prominence as a springboard specialist when he won bronze the 1m event at the 2013 world championships in Barcelona, Spain. However a serious knee injury later that year cast his career in doubt, until NSWIS coach Chava Sobrino offered him the chance to recover in Sydney.

Fortunately for Chavez he returned to the pool and under the guidance of Sobrino made rapid improvement, prompting a switch of allegiance to the green and gold.

The 24-year-old then qualified for the Australian Olympic team, however finished 26^th in the 3m event in Rio. Despite the windy and challenging conditions at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Rio, Chavez simply put his disappointing result down to having a bad day.

Just over two months on from his Olympic frustration, Chavez will be able to take plenty of confidence from his bronze medal performance at a world grand prix meet.

In other events fellow Australian Taneka Kovchenko just missed the medals to finish fourth in the women’s 10m platform.