Keeney takes the plunge and relishes pressure
MADDISON Keeney’s nerves were once so bad in international competition she literally baulked at the thought of winning.
Now a world champion, after conquering her demons at the world championships earlier this year, Keeney is thrilled at the thought of fans willing her to win at a home Commonwealth Games.
Brisbane-based Keeney can seal her Games place this week at the diving trials at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre by winning the 1m springboard – the event in which she is world champion – or finishing in the top two in the 3m.
It’s a virtual fait accompli for the 21-year-old, who will have the chance to compete at a second Games next year after making her debut in 2014.
It was Keeney’s first taste of being part of an Aussie team at a major multi-sport event and gave her an appreciation of the support the nation throws behind its Games athletes.
Keeney had made her international debut earlier that year at the World Cup – an important event on the diving calendar, attended by world diving powers including China, the US, Germany and Russia, all countries outside the Commonwealth.
“We had World Cup as well just before that, but (2014) was my first big Games,” she said.
“(Comm Games) is more of an atmosphere the whole country can get behind.
“No one knows the diving World Cup exists but everyone knows about the Commonwealth Games, so it’s quite different.”
While the diving competition was in Edinburgh, about 80km northeast of the main competition centre in Glasgow, it attracted a strong crowd who watched as Keeney put herself in position for a gold medal heading into the final stages of the 1m springboard competition.
She aborted her second-last dive though, losing hold on first but snaring the silver.
Having exorcised her world championship demons earlier this year, Keeney is hoping to do the same in the Games.