The Australian Diving Team have begun their Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games campaign with a medal from two events on the first day of competition.

Shixin Li in his first Commonwealth Games competition picked up silver medal in a hotly contested Men’s 1-Metre Springboard event with a score of 437.05.

The gold medal was won by England’s Jack Laugher whose outstanding fourth dive propelled him to a final score of 447.05, just 10 points higher than Li.

Li opened the competition with a reverse one-and-a-half somersault two-and-a-half twist receiving no less than seven-and-a-half from the judges. The dive was enough to move him into a medal position where he remained for the rest of the competition.  

“I am very happy, it is my first time competing at the Commonwealth Games, it’s my first time in the U.K., and it’s my first event, to get a medal is very exciting,” Li said.

Although there was a minor technical fault prior to Li’s round three dive, the Aussie was able to regain his focus and maintain his composure.

“In round three there was a little bit of a problem that changed my competition rhythm,” he said, “but what I think was good was my last three rounds to get back. I was very happy with that, it has been a very good experience for me.”

The 32-year-old closed his list with a front three-and-a-half pike, one of the hardest dives in his repertoire and the event.

Li will look to recreate his success from Thursday in his next event, the Men’s 3-Metre Synchro, where he will partner with fellow debutant Sam Fricker, before taking on the Men’s 3-Metre and Mixed 3-Metre Synchro events.

“It is a little bit difficult for an old man, but I will do my best,” Li said.

In the other event of the evening, the Women’s 10-Metre Platform, a trio of Aussies represented the green and gold in the final. 

All in their first Commonwealth Games, Emily Meaney, Emily Boyd, and Nikita Hains put forward a valiant effort amongst a field of world class divers. Meaney, who narrowly qualified for the final, finished top amongst the trio in fifth.

“Super happy with that one, an improvement from prelims, so excited with that result,” Meaney said, “it is a score I am really happy with.

“I think I was a little bit nervous in the prelim so come the final I knew what to expect and had a bit better diving.”

For Meaney, the Sandwell Aquatics Centre held the largest crowd he had ever dives in front of. 

“I think that was one of the biggest crowds I have ever competed in front of so that was super exciting. They were really loud, really energetic, so it brought out some really good diving from the girls.

“I didn’t really come with many expectations, this was my first Games, I just wanted to get out there, dive how I know I can and have a little fun.”

Boyd and Hains posted the seventh and eight highest scores in the event. They will return as a duo in the Women’s 10-Metre Synchro event.

The Australian Diving Team return to competition on Friday with a 7:05PM AEST start time.