Australia’s men’s and women’s Platform Synchro champions have been crowned after a thrilling opening day of competition at the Australian Open Championships in Ringwood, Victoria.

The Australian Open Championships also double as the nomination trials for the FINA World Championships and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with teams to be confirmed following the competition.

Day one of the competition saw the men’s and women’s Platform Synchro teams go head to head, before the women’s 1m final rounded out the day.

Rio Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist Domonic Bedggood (QLD) teamed up with Cassiel Rousseau (QLD) to take out gold in the Men’s Synchro Platform final, ahead of Tokyo Olympian Sam Fricker (NSW) and Jaxon Bowshire (SA) in second, and Jonah Mercieca (VIC) and Corey Lane (NSW) in third.

The win is a great confidence boost for Bedggood in his return to competition, and puts him in a good position to qualify for his third Commonwealth Games team.

“Today was fun, it was nice to be out there with my new partner Cass,” Bedggood said.

“He’s very young and enthusiastic, and he gives me a new outlook on diving at competitions which is nice after all this time being in the sport.

“For us the ultimate goal is Paris [Olympics], and it was nice to get the ball rolling towards that and today’s result speaks to the potential that we both have as a synchro pair.

“We’ve done everything we can in terms of showcasing what we can do, so hopefully the selection committee sees the same thing,” he said.

The women’s Platform Synchro title was taken out by two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist and two-time Olympic medalist Melissa Wu, who competed with rising star 14-year-old Charli Petrov.

Petrov said she was stoked to be able to dive her best, alongside one of Australia’s best divers.

“It was definitely a nerve wracking competition and something I haven’t experienced much before,” Petrov said.

“It was my first time diving alongside Mel in a competition, and she made it such a fun time.

“The last couple of weeks of training I don’t think it really hit me, until today when I realised wow I’ve won the Australian title with Melissa Wu,” she said.

2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Esther Qin won the women’s 1m event with a score of 559.55 ahead of Georgia Sheehan (QLD) on 537.45 and Brittany O’Brien (NSW) on 516.55.

Day two of the 2022 Australian Open Championships will get underway at Aquanation in Ringwood tomorrow (Thursday 2 June) from 10am with the men’s and womens 3m Synchronised event.

For the full competition schedule - click here

For live results - click here