Georgia Sheehan has quickly gone from junior prodigy to confidently cementing her spot as one of Australia’s premier women’s springboard divers. The Queensland native took some time to talk about her roots in the sport, the 2018 season and training alongside a World Champ.

How did you first get into diving?

I started diving when I was 10-years-old, I had watched Matt Mitcham compete and win his gold medal at the Olympics in 2008. I was a gymnast at the time and just not really enjoying it, so I was watching that event and I turned to my mum and said, “I want to do that.” A couple months later I trialed for the NTID, now NEPP, program and got accepted. I haven’t stopped since.

You went to the 2014 Commonwealth Games as a 15-year-old, how was that experience for you at such a young age?

I think it was a really surreal experience, I was a very inexperienced athlete. In saying that, I learned a lot and I was able to absorb everything around me and take in everything I was experiencing. I think that everything that I learned, I have continued to use throughout my career. For me that was my first open international competition, so it was really scary, I remember making a lot of mistakes that I have learned from, but it was such a great experience that I loved every minute of.

This year you went and took home gold with synchro partner Esther Qin on the Gold Coast earlier this year, talk me through that event?

That was an interesting event, as I’m sure everyone who watched it knows. We definitely weren’t expected to win gold, in any way, shape or form. Our goal for that competition was just to go out there and prove how hard we had been working and let the results show that themselves. There were some interesting turns of events that happened towards the end of that competition, and we were just lucky enough to be able to handle the conditions on the day. In saying that we had worked really hard in the preparation beforehand. We were obviously really happy with that competition, it was a great moment for us and kept us really motivated for the rest of the season.

You train alongside World Champion, Maddi Keeney, what does working alongside here do for your own diving?

Maddi is such an amazing role model. She’s the only women’s springboard diver, or one of the very few, who is breaking boundaries and revolutionizing our sport as we known it. To train with someone like that is really amazing, I look up to her so much in the way she trains and her work ethic. I think from being able to watch that, I am able to replicate that in some of my own training.

You’ve had the opportunity to travel to a few World Series competitions this year, how was that experience?

That was amazing. I was called up pretty last minute, because Maddi had injured herself at the time and Anabelle (Smith) had been doing a lot of competitions as well, so I got called up. Esther and I dived really well on the day, we handled the pressures really well and were able to come away with a medal.

What is the plan for the rest of 2018?

Being in off season at the moment, the next couple of weeks will be about getting back into completion dives and getting into peak physical condition so that when the Gold Coast Grand Prix rolls around in November, I can compete in both of my events and hopefully do really well.

How do you make sure that you don’t become overwhelmed by training and competition?

For me, balance is really important. I like to find a good mix between my training life and life outside the pool. My friends and my family keep me sane and I really appreciate all the love and support I get from them. I guess that’s why the 2018 Commonwealth Games was so special and important, all the people who had been there for me, were able to come watch me dive and win gold.

What has been your fondest memory from your time on the National Squad?

I don’t think I can pinpoint it to just one moment, but the complete 2017-18 season was really special. I had been training with my new coach Ady Hinchliffe, and getting to bond with my teammates really well alongside with traveling a lot and competing at World Series, Commonwealth Games and finishing up with World Cup. That whole season was really a growth period for me, and I am excited to take those lessons into the future.

What advice do you have for young divers?

It’s really important to love what you do. If you love it, the whole experience will be a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable.