Brittany O’Brien continues to rack up accolade after accolade with each passing month. The Olympian took time to talk about competing with a long-time synchro partner, a last-minute call up to Rio 2016, and training alongside the next generation of champion divers.

How did you first get into diving?

O’Brien - I started when I was living in London at age nine, it was only once a week for something like 40 minutes. We never actually went off the diving boards or anything, but it still gave me a taste for the sport. When I came back to Australia I started with my school Pymble Ladies’ College, and just kept on going from there.

Since you’ve started diving, what has been your favorite memory?

O’Brien - Probably going to the Olympics in Rio would be my favorite memory. Going to those games with such short notice has really taught me a lot about myself and my abilities as both an athlete and an individual. Being part of that team was really amazing, everyone was so supportive and straight away I felt really welcomed, which for sure positively affected my performance.

You mention that late call up to the games, talk me through that emotional rollercoaster.

O’Brien - I was sort of so overwhelmed that I really didn’t think too much about it, I kind of just went with it and did it, I felt like I really didn’t have enough time to get freaked out about competing at the Olympics, because of that, I think it actually helped me out a lot. In some way, I wasn’t as nervous because there was no external or internal pressure, I just had an opportunity to go out there and do the best I could.

You train alongside one of Australia’s most successful women’s platform divers ever in Melissa Wu, what does her being there do for you?

O’Brien - I think Melissa is very inspiring and definitely pushes me to work my hardest because, she works so hard and to be able to see where she is now gives me motivation to work and get to that level. With everything that she’s been through, how she pushes herself is really motivating.

In New South Wales there is such a wide age range within the elite program, what is that like for you and the team?

O’Brien - Having the younger kids, I feel like somewhat of a mentor to them. I, like the rest of the open divers, are there to help them out both in and out of the pool. When I was younger I used to really idolize all the older divers and most of them were really nice and helped me a bunch with getting over mental hurdles. I try and do the same for the younger kids now, because I know how much it means to them.

You and your synchro partner Anna-Rose Keating have been working together now for some time. What does that bring to the pairing?

O’Brien - With more experience, the synchronized aspects definitely improve a lot, it just becomes a lot more natural. I think that it’s not a major issue that we don’t train in the same state, that’s ok because we are now pretty experienced. It’s now the individual aspects that we need to focus on because the synchro is pretty good.

The two of you both compete a back three-and-a-half, that dive has a really high degree of difficulty, how does that effect your training and competition?

O’Brien - Well if we nail that dive then it will give us a big advantage over everyone else because not many pairings really do that dive synchro. We are both capable to do it really well, we haven’t done it quite as well as we have hoped, but hopefully in the next couple competitions we will.

You’ve come back now from a little training break, what does the next few months entail?

O’Brien - The next couple of months I will really be focusing on my strength. I’ve been doing extra hard gym work just to get my body ready for the demands that ten meter requires. I also just need to focus on perfecting my technique and working on my entries which always can benefit from some improvement.

Do you have any advice for young divers or anyone interested in getting into the sport?

O’Brien - I’d just say you really need to be courageous to be a diver and you really need to enjoy what you’re doing. If you enjoy it, you will be a lot more successful, push yourself, and don’t be afraid to try new things.