Brodie Scapens is a quickly rising Australian star on the ten-meter platform. The Adelaide native took some time to talk about finding his roots jumping off jetties, overcoming frustrations and diving at the FINA World Cup.

How did you first get into diving?

Basically, it all started when I was just hanging out with my mates, doing flips off the jetty. Mum didn’t take to kindly to me endangering myself off the jetty, a new pool had opened up at Marion and she said ‘why don’t you try diving to learn how to do it properly so you don’t hurt yourself.’ It kind of all started from there.

What has been your favorite memory in the sport thus far?

Probably competing at my first international competition, which was the 2014 World Junior Championships over in Russia. Just realizing that this is what it can all come out to, what the end picture is, you can go away and make a lot of new friends. I just got a really good grasp on what the sport was about.

You grew up training with, Ross Todd and Matt Carter. What was it like being able to do train and compete with them on your team?

I think it was a massive help in propelling my diving career at the start. I had come from a football background where I had a lot of guys, a lot of mates, around me all the time doing my sport. So, it really helped having Matt and Ross to joke around with and compete against in trainings, it really just helped to push my own diving as well as theirs.

Your new coach, Rick Schavone has only been in Adelaide a couple of months, how has that transition been for you?

I think it’s been really good actually, really positive. For me personally I love Rick, one of the main things is that he treats his athletes like adults, which is really great. He gives you very individualized information and because of that, shows he really cares about not only his goals but also yours.

When you get frustrated with your diving or come to a road block, what do you do to get over it?

If I find myself stuck mentally I will go and have a chat to Rick about it and maybe move on from that skill and get back to it later. I think it’s good to talk about the issues with either your coach or another athlete to find a way around it, but also keep it light hearted.

You went to your first major international event, the World Cup, in China earlier this year. How was that competition for you?

I think it was great, experience wise. It was really great to see how everything worked in terms of squad dynamics and to experience how it felt to be treated as a senior athlete on an international trip. My comp in general felt pretty good, I was pretty happy with the result considering we weren’t really polling for anything, but the experience and exposure to the highest international level was really positive.

In a couple of months, you are set to compete at the Gold Coast Grand Prix, what are you most excited about for that meet?

I’m really excited to get outdoors again. Diving outside it kind of a different thing and I really like the challenging aspect of it, it just throws another ball in the ring. I’m excited to compete back home again, everyone loves the Goldy and loves competing in Australia.

What advice do you have for younger divers?

I think it is important for younger divers to remember that having fun is the most important aspect of the sport. If you’re not enjoying it then there is no point pushing yourself to do it. I think it is also really important to listen to what you believe it true, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says, if you love the sport and want to keep on pursing it, then do that.