Fricker and O’Brien Impress at Trials

Diving Australia’s four-day trials event to select the team to the 2024 World Aquatics Championships started in Brisbane on Sunday, with Australian divers battling it out for team selection.

In the Women’s 3-Metre Springboard Synchronised event, NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athletes Brittany O’Brien and Georgia Sheehan finished in second place (574.20) behind Rio Olympic bronze medallists Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney (615.99).

“It was the first time Belle and I have competed together in about a year since her injury,” Keeney said.

“It’s been really fun, the competition has been nice and steady which I was hoping for.

“To see up-and-coming divers in action today has been exciting, Emily and Nina from Victoria were out there for the first time and they looked amazing. To have athletes developing is really exciting for the Women’s 3-Metre,” she said.

The Women’s 10-Metre Platform Synchronised event also saw up-and-coming athletes take to the stage.
Pairs Maggie Grey and Kayla Davies and Ellie Cole and Ruby Drogemuller all took advantage of the opportunity to have a hit out in a competition setting. The latter pairing taking the win with a total score of 488.40.

The Women’s 1-Metre Springboard was a highly competitive event with 11 athletes taking to the pool.

Synchronised 3-Metre event partners, O’Brien and Sheehan took out the top two spots, finishing in first and second position respectively.

O’Brien who won the event with a final score of 269.55 enjoyed the rivalry against her teammate.

“We have very similar competition styles, we are both very relaxed so it’s always good to dive alongside her. It’s nice to battle it out a little bit in that 1-Metre event,” O’Brien said.

Men’s 3-Metre Springboard Synchronised rounded out the day with NSWIS pair Kurtis Mathews and Sam Fricker finishing the day on top, with a score of 709.05.

“It was a little bit tough, we are a new team and this is only our second competition together,” Mathews said.

“I took a little break following coming back from college in the US so it’s been a little bit intimidating being back on the boards.

“It’s been good to be back in Australia competing with familiar faces,” he said.

Article and image courtesy of Diving Australia