In less than a week, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre is set to open its doors to the Diving Australia 2021 Australian Open Championships incorporating Nomination Trials.

The event will see Australia’s top divers compete for the title of Australian Open Champion and one of seven tickets onto the Australian Olympic Team and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Return to Sydney

The return of the 2021 Australian Open Championships to Sydney marks the 21^st anniversary of the historic 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

The Games of the New Millennium saw Australian diving return to the Olympic podium after a prolonged hiatus, with two bronze medals from Rebecca Manuel (née Gilmore) and Loudy Wiggins (née Tourky) in 10 Metre Platform Synchronised and Robert Newbery and Dean Pullar in 3 Metre Springboard Synchronised.

“Having our Nomination Trials in this pool brings back lots of memories as we celebrate, now, 21 years since the magnificent Sydney Olympics and Australian diving returning to the Olympic Podium after a long 76 years,” Diving Australia Chairman Michael Murphy said.

"We will be fortunate to have a number of members of that Diving Team join us next week. Thank you for being there, and further, for your legacy as part of Australian Diving"

From the triumph in Sydney, Australian diving continued its success securing medals at every Olympic Games since.

Experience and Eagerness

The Diving Australia National Squad heads into these Australian Open Championships with a mix of experience and youth.

Members of the National Squad can boast an impressive 10 Olympic appearances between them led by Olympic Silver Medallist and three time Australian Olympic Team Member Melissa Wu. James Connor and Anabelle Smith each have two Olympic appearances to their name with Brittany O’Brien, Domonic Bedggood, and Maddi Keeney all having made their Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games.

The remaining athletes of the 23 member National Squad will compete for the opportunity to perform at their first Olympic Games in Tokyo next month. Amongst them are Commonwealth Medallists, World Champions, Youth Olympic Representatives, and Junior World Medallists.

"We are really excited to welcome our best divers from around the country to Sydney. This event will showcase our sport to the wider community," Diving New South Wales CEO Gillian Brooker said.

"Their hard word, sportsmanship and dedication is something we admire, and our junior participants aspire to."

Road to Tokyo

Australian divers have secured a total of seven Olympic quota positions for the 2020 Tokyo Games. One position in the Men’s 3 Metre Springboard event, and two in each of the Men’s 10 Metre Platform, Women’s 10 Metre Platform, and Women’s 3 Metre Springboard.

The Diving Australia Selection Committee will nominate athletes based on performances and results at the 2021 Australian Open Championships incorporating Nomination Trials to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection in the 2020 Australian Olympic Team.

An official Team Announcement will be held in the days following the Championships and communicated through Australian Olympic Committee and Diving Australia platforms.

How to Watch

The 2021 Australian Open Championships kicks off at 9am on Monday June 7 at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and will run for five days concluding on Friday June 11. The event is free and open to spectators of all ages for the duration of the competition. COVID-19 guidelines will be in place.

The final round of the Men’s and Women’s 3 Metre Springboard and Men’s and Women’s 10 Metre Platform will be broadcast live and exclusive to 7plus starting at 2:50pm on Thursday June 10 and Friday June 11. The preliminary and semi-final rounds of those same events will be streamed to the Diving Australia Facebook Page on Tuesday June 8 and Wednesday June 9.

Live results will be available at DiveRecorder.co.uk