Secondgoldwipesawaytears afterKeeney’s yearofillness

MADDISON Keeney won her second gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, cementing her place as one of Australia’s best divers after years battling injuries and rotten luck

Just 24 hours after teaming up with Belle Smith to win the synchronised title, Keeney collected another gold by winning the individual threemetre springboard event in brilliant fashion.

Trailing Malaysia’s Nur Dhabitah after the first three dives, Keeney snatched the outright lead with a dazzling three-and-a-half forward somersault that wowed the judges.

Then she held her nerve on her fifth and final dive – a two-and-a-half forward flip with a twist – to finish on 348.95 points and win another gold.

It was a medal she thought may never come again after being struck down by ailing health over the past few years.

“I’ve just been so injured and out of competition and out of the pool and out of competition for a couple of years and then coming into this year,” she said. “I’m still injured, but I thought I’d just give you a crack and see what I got.

“It was just a great event to be a part of. Everyone was diving well and it was so down to the wire. When people are diving well, it really brings everyone else up. And I think it really makes a difference.”

Dhabitah, who also finished runner up in the synchronised event, took the silver while the bronze went to Canada’s Mia Vallee.

Australia’s Georgia Sheehan finished seventh while her teammate Brittany O’Brien came 10th.

Keeney, 26, has long been one of Australia’s premier divers, winning her first medal eight years ago.