BEDGGOOD IN TUNE FOR AUSSIE GAMES ANTHEM
DOMONIC Bedggood had hoped to hear the Australian national anthem ringing out at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre but will have to wait for April for his moment.
Bedggood finished second in the 10m platform final at the FINA Diving Grand Prix yesterday, narrowly behind China’s world championship bronze medallist Jian Tang.
It was a strong effort from the proud Gold Coaster and a sign he will be among the contenders in the event at the Commonwealth Games.
“There’s good and bad to take from that,” said Bedggood, who finished with silver in his sole individual event after a seventh placing in the 3m synchro with Matthew Carter on Saturday.
“I was hoping to hear the Australian anthem today but in due time.
“But there’s a lot to take away, a lot of positives and it’s also good to expose the gaps in your game this early so you can fill those for April come Comm Games.”
Divers were forced to cope with a range of conditions over the four-day meet, from rain squalls and placid breezes to gales coming off the adjacent Broadwater.
It’s something Bedggood believes will help him and his Australian teammates at next month’s Games trials and April’s main event.
“I feel like now I’m completely well rounded and able to adapt to any situation,” he said.
“I think it’s good from that sense, that we’ve competed in every condition possible, so we need to take that mental ability into Commonwealth Games.”
Bedggood was outstanding yesterday but a slightly sub-par effort on his third dive – a reverse three-and-ahalf somersault in the tuck position – ruined his hopes.
“That’s what lost me the competition and that’s usually one of my stronger (dives),” he said.
“But again, that’s learning to adapt to the conditions and I need to learn to cope with that in order to execute the dive as I usually would.”
It’s that attitude that impresses Australian team coach Ady Hinchliffe, the former Team GB mentor who has begun working with Bedggood this year.
“He’s a great guy, he’s got a big heart,” Hinchliffe said.
“He doesn’t want to cap himself, which I really enjoy, and those are the types of athletes I like to work with.”
It’s that attitude that Bedggood hopes can propel him onto the podium at the Gold Coast Games.
I WAS HOPING TO HEAR THE AUSTRALIAN ANTHEM TODAY BUT IN DUE TIME ... DOMONIC BEDGGOOD