CARTER CONTINUES LOVE AFFAIR WITH DRESDEN

If South Australian diver, Matthew Carter, could work out a way of getting the Dresden Diving Pool into his luggage to bring back to Australia, we’re pretty sure he would!

It’s been a very happy hunting ground for Carter, who picked up a gold and silver medal at the Dresden International Youth Diving Competition on the weekend.

12 months ago Carter won silver at the same competition.

He and six other of Australia’s most promising divers of the future went to Germany to not only gain valuable international experience, but also to take on some of the best young divers in the world.

Their trip was partly funded by the generous support of the NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program, a scheme designed to help prepare our future Commonwealth Games athletes for international competition.

Carter was the outstanding diver in a large 3-metre springboard field. He dominated the preliminary round, and then led from his first dive and was never headed in the final.

He followed up on the final night of competition with a hard-fought silver medal in the 1-metre event.

He and local German diver, Lou Massenberg, were involved in a tight tussle throughout the event, with Massenberg eventually winning gold by just over three points from a gallant Carter.

“Being selected as part of the NextGen AusComGames squad is a great opportunity to help me try and reach my goals as a diver,” Carter said.

“I feel privileged to be recognized as part of the future of Australian diving.  I have many goals I want to achieve and the help from the ACGA will go towards these goals.”

South Australian teammate, Brodie Scapens, went close to a medal in the platform on the final night of competition.

In a topsy-turvy final, Scapens at one stage sat second before finishing a hard-fought fourth.

There were plenty of other encouraging results for the NextGEN AUSComGames squad, with several divers making finals.

Naomi Gowlett and Ruby Neave both made the final of their 3-metre and one metre events.

Their best results came in the 1-metre, where Gowlett finished fourth and Neave fifth.

In the 3-metre Gowlett finishing eighth and Neave 12th.

“I have big goals for my future and every step towards achieving them is an exciting one. Any help I receive to take these steps is greatly appreciated.

“Thank you to the ACGA for all support,” Gowlett said.

Neave also leaves Dresden full of excitement for the future.

“Gaining selection to the NextGen AusCom games squad has really excited me and further motivated me for future years to come,” she said.

“I am so grateful to be apart of this squad and it has increased my drive and passion as a diver, as well as proving that all the hard work that goes into training pays off. Thank you ACGA.”

Tamara Irvine, who went to Dresden with the busiest programs of all the Australian team members, made finals in three events.

She finished ninth in the final of her 3-metre event and the 1-metre event, 12th in the platform final

Western Australia’s Teju Williamson was eighth in a strong platform final, while Ella Dungey continued the strong South Australian performance with a seventh in her 1-metre final.

The divers will now return to Australia, with several expected to compete this coming weekend at the Australian Open and World Championship selection trials.