Diving Achievements
Some of the year-by-year highlights include:
2009
The competition year commenced with the National Championships in Brisbane in February. AIS athletes won eight medals including all five gold medals in the women's events in a field that included an invitational team from China. Then it was off to Qatar, China, England and Mexico for the FINA Diving World Series. The best individual performance was Sharleen Stratton who won gold (Chanzhou) and bronze medals (Doha). In synchronised events, Bree Cole and Melissa Wu won two silver and two bronze medals, and Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton won one silver and two bronze medals.
At the FINA Diving Grand Prix event in Montreal, AIS athletes won three gold medals in Women's 3m Springboard (Sharleen Stratton), Women's 3m Synchronised (Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton), and Women's Platform Synchronised (Bree Cole & Melissa Wu). AIS athletes missed the FINA Diving Grand Prix event in Fort Lauderdale when the Swine Flu outbreak brought the team home early. In May, Olivia Wright had a breakthrough international performance winning a silver medal in the Women's 3m Springboard at the FINA Diving Grand Prix event in Madrid. The benchmark international event for the year was the FINA World Championships in Rome from 19 July to 2 August.
2008
The Olympic year began with AIS athletes winning 14 medals at the National Championships in Adelaide. In February, the 16th FINA Diving World Cup was held in Beijing as a test event for the Olympic Games later in the year. Against the very best international divers, Sharleen Stratton won a bronze medal in the Women's 3m Springboard. Bree Cole & Melissa Wu continued their successful partnership winning a bronze medal in the Women's Platform Synchronised. The two medals saw Australia finish in equal 5th place on the medal standings. After the World Cup event, it was off to Shenzen, China for the FINA Diving Grand Prix event where AIS athletes won one silver medal (Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton) and two bronze medals (Sharleen Stratton, and Robert Newbery & Scott Robertson).
The first leg of the Olympic Trials were held in Hobart in April. There was heartbreak for Loudy Tourky who injured herself duing the competition and was ruled out of competing at her fourth successive Olympic Games. The top three athletes in each event then travelled to the FINA Diving Grand Prix events in Canada and the USA. In Montreal, AIS athletes won six medals including gold by Melissa Wu in the Women's Platform. At the next event in Fort Lauderdale, AIS athletes won four more medals including silver to Mathew Helm in the Men's Platform. The Olympic Team was selected on return to Australia and was made up of seven current (Bree Cole, Alexandra Croak, Chantelle Newbery, Robert Newbery, Scott Robertson, Sharleen Stratton and Melissa Wu) and one former AIS athlete (Matthew Mitcham). Olivia Wright travelled to the FINA Diving Grand Prix event in Rome and won a bronze medal in the Women's Platform Synchronised. The Olympic Team headed to Rostock in Germany for the FINA Diving Grand Prix event in June winning three silver and two bronze medals.
Then it was back to training and final preparations for the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. In Beijing, Australia won a memorable gold medal (Matthew Mitcham) and silver medal (Bree Cole & Melissa Wu) to finish second on the medal rankings behind a dominant China. Matthew Mitcham's stunning gold medal in the Men's Platform prevented an unprecedented sweep of all eight diving events and remains an enduring image from the Games. After the Olympic Games, Chantelle Newbery, Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm all retired from diving.
2007
The year began with AIS athletes winning 11 medals at the National Championships in Melbourne in January. Later that month, Melissa Wu won a bronze medal in the Women's Platform at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney. In March, the major competition season for the year commenced with the FINA World Championships in Melbourne. In total, AIS athletes won two medals with Bree Cole & Melissa Wu winning silver in the Women's Platform Synchronised, and Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton winning bronze in the Women's 3m Synchronised.
Following the success at the World Championships, it was time to head overseas for the series of FINA Diving Grand Prix events. In Zhuhai (CHN), AIS athletes won three medals, in Montreal (CAN) another two medals and in Fort Luderdale (USA) two more medals. Melissa Wu finished the three events with four medals (including bronze in two individual events), and in the synchronised events, Bee Cole won five medals and Sharleen Stratton won three medals.
In June, it was off to Europe for more FINA Diving Grand Prix competition in Madrid, Rome and Rostock. The best result was in Germany with Melissa Wu winning bronze in Women's Platform and silver in Women's Platform Synchronised with Bree Cole. August saw the return of Chantelle Newbery, Mathew Helm and Robert Newbery from extended breaks, all with the goal of being selected for their third Olympic Games in 2008.
In September, Bree Cole, Sharleen Stratton and Melissa Wu were invited to compete at the inaugural three-leg FINA Diving World Series. The girls won a total of four medals in synchronised competition including bronze in Sheffield, silver in Mexico City and silver & bronze in Nanjing.
2006
A big 2006 competition year got off to a fast start in February when AIS athletes won a total of thirteen medals at the National Championships in Melbourne.
National Team athletes then headed to Sydney for the FINA Southern Cross Diving Grand Prix event. Australia won a total of six medals including silver medals to Mathew Helm in Men’s Platform, Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton in Women’s 3m Synchronised, and Robert Newbery & Steven Barnett (ex-AIS) in Men’s 3m Synchronised. Bronze medals were won by Chantelle Newbery in Women’s Platform, Mathew Helm & Robert Newbery in Men’s Platform Synchronised, and Chantelle Newbery & Loudy Tourky (ex-AIS) in Women’s Platform Synchronised.
In March, Australia celebrated finishing as the number one diving nation at the XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne winning a total of 14 medals. Five gold medals were won by Australia including Mathew Helm in Men’s Platform, Loudy Tourky (ex-AIS) in Women’s Platform, Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton in Women’s 3m Synchronised, Chantelle Newbery & Loudy Tourky (ex-AIS) in Women’s Platform Synchronised, and Mathew Helm & Robert Newbery in Men’s Platform Synchronised. Other medals won by AIS athletes included Chantelle Newbery (two silver medals), Robert Newbery (silver & bronze medals) and Sharleen Stratton (silver medal).
The period after the Commonwealth Games saw the retirement of three of Australia’s most successful diving athletes – Chantelle Newbery, Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm. All three have won medals at Olympic Games, FINA World Championships, FINA World Cups and Commonwealth Games and made a significant contribution to Australia’s most successful era in international diving. Their presence will be sorely missed.
In April, Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton won a bronze medal in the Women’s 3m Synchronised event at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Zhuhai, China.
In May, Australia won two medals at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale, USA. Bree Cole & Sharleen Stratton won a silver medal in Women’s 3m Springboard, and Matthew Mitcham & Scott Robertson won a bronze medal in Men’s 3m Synchronised.
The major benchmark event for the year was the 15th FINA Diving World Cup in Changshu, China in July. For the first time since 1993, Australia did not win a medal at a diving world cup event. Best individual performances included Sharleen Stratton (4th) in Women’s 1m Springboard, and Matthew Mitcham (6th) in Men’s 1m Springboard.
AIS athletes also competed at the FINA Diving Grand Prix event in Rome, Italy and the Champions Diving Tour event in Nanjing, China.
The year also saw the retirement of Wang Tong Xiang, affectionately known to all as Mr Wang. Mr Wang, a former member of the Chinese National Team, first joined the AIS Diving program in 1990. After more than fifteen years of hard work and dedicated service to the AIS and the sport of diving in Australia, Mr Wang retired from coaching in Australia on 18 May 2006.
2005
International results for 2005 were dampened by injuries, retirement, extended training breaks and interstate relocation for a number of senior scholarship athletes after the highly successful Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The major benchmark event for the year was the 11th FINA World Championships in Montreal, Canada. Australia won two medals including a silver medal to Chantelle Newbery and Loudy Tourky (VIS) in the Women’s Platform Synchronised event.
The year also saw breakthrough international medal winning performances in individual competition for two promising AIS athletes. At the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale USA, Sharleen Stratton won a silver medal in the Women’s 3m Springboard. Matthew Mitcham won a bronze medal in the Men’s 3m Springboard at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Zhuhai, China and another bronze medal in the Men’s Platform event at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada.
Other medals were won at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in China by Robert Newbery (bronze) in Men’s Platform and (bronze) in Men’s 3m Synchronised with Steven Barnett (NSWIS); and Chantelle Newbery (bronze) with Loudy Tourky (VIS) in the Women’s Platform Synchronised.
AIS athletes also competed in international FINA Diving Grand prix events in Rostock, Germany; Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy as well as the World University Summer Games in Izmir, Turkey.
AIS athletes won a total of sixteen medals at the National Championships in Southport, Queensland.
Diving was also included for the first time at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, Australia. Matthew Mitcham won three gold medals and one silver medal, and Sharleen Stratton won two gold medals.
2004
The six medals won at the Athens Olympic Games made 2004 the most successful year ever for the sport of diving in Australia. Individual medals were won by AIS athletes including Chantelle Newbery - gold (Women's Platform), Mathew Helm - silver (Men's Platform) and Loudy Tourky - bronze (Women's Platform). Chantelle's gold medal was the first in Olympic diving competition since Dick Eve won the Plain High Dive event at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. AIS atheletes also won three Olympic bronze medals in synchronised events including Steven Barnett & Robert Newbery (Men's 3m Synchronised), Chantelle Newbery (Women's 3m Synchronised) and Mathew Helm & Robert Newbery (Men's Platform Synchronised). Australia placed second on the Olympic medal tally for the first time behind only China (with 9 medals).
At the XIV FINA Diving World Cup in Athens (test event for Olympic Games), two silver medals were won by Loudy Tourky (Women's Platform) and Robert Newbery & Steven Barnett (Men's 3m Synchronised). At the FINA Diving Grand Prix Super Final in Mexico City, a total of six medals were won by Mathew Helm & Robert Newbery - gold (Men's Platform Synchronised), Robert Newbery & Steven Barnett - silver (Men's 3m Synchronised), Loudy Tourky - silver and Chantelle Newbery - bronze (Women's Platform) and Chantelle Newbery - bronze (Women's 3m Synchronised).
AIS athletes won a total of seventeen medals (silver and bronze) across three international FINA Diving Grand Prix events in China, Canada and USA. AIS athletes also dominated competition at the National Championships in Hobart with a total of nineteen medals.
2003
AIS athletes made a major contribution to the most successful performance by Australia at the 10 th FINA World Championships in Barcelona . Medallists included Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm (gold medal) in Men's Platform Synchronised, Mathew Helm (silver medal) in Men's Platform, and Lynda Dackiw (silver medal) in Women's Platform Synchronised.
Australia finished as the third ranked country with a total of 4 medals behind China (12 medals) and Russia (6 medals). AIS athletes also helped Australia to its best-ever international tour winning numerous individual and Synchronised medals across the three legs of the prestigious FINA Can-Am-Mex Grand Prix series in North America . Robert Newbery won an incredible five gold, one silver and four bronze medals across the three competitions.
At the FINA China Cup Grand Prix in Zhuhai, Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm won gold medal in Men's Platform Synchronised by just 0.56 points from the Chinese team. It was the first time the Chinese had lost this event since the 2000 Olympic Games. Mathew Helm won gold medal in Men's Platform against a world-class field including China 's two best divers in the first international event of the year, the FINA Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide .
2002
At the FINA Canada Cup Grand Prix, Robert Newbery won the Men's 3m Springboard with a world-class score of 492.84 points. Lynda Folauhola won a gold medal in the Women's Platform event at the FINA Italian Grand Prix in Rome. At the XIII FINA Diving World in Seville, AIS athletes helped Australia finish as the third best nation behind China and Russia. Robert Newbery and Steven Barnett won silver in the Men's 3m Synchronised event, and Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm won bronze in the Men's Platform Synchronised event.
Five AIS athletes were selected to compete at the XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Steven Barnett (Men's 1m Springboard) and Robert Newbery (Men's 3m Springboard) won bronze medals. Despite intense competition from Canada and England, Australia finished on the medal table as the number one diving nation in the Commonwealth. Matthew Cooper travelled to Aachen, Germany for the 14th FINA World Junior Diving Championships and achieved a 5th place in both the Boy's 16/18 years Springboard events.
2001
Robert Newbery won gold medal in the Men's 3m Springboard event at the FINA USA Grand Prix in Coral Springs, Florida. US Diving presented Robert with the prestigious Icarus Award in recognition of his performance (459.30 points against an Olympic-class field). Four AIS athletes were selected for the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The highlight was Mathew Helm's 3rd place in the Men's Platform event, which was the first ever individual medal won by an Australian male athlete at this event.
The performances of AIS athletes helped Australia achieve an overall ranking of third behind only China and Russia. Three AIS athletes selected in U.21 Australian team to compete at the 3rd East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan. In the final major competition for the year, five AIS athletes were selected for the Goodwill Games in Brisbane. Mathew Helm and Robert Newbery won a silver medal in the Men's Platform Synchronised event.
2000
Five AIS athletes were selected in the Australian team for XII FINA Diving World Cup in Sydney. Chantelle Michell won a silver medal in 1m Springboard. Dean Pullar won a bronze medal in 1m Springboard, and a silver medal with Steven Barnett in 3m Synchro. Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm won a silver medal in Platform Synchro.
AIS athletes compete in FINA Diving Grand Prix events in Australia, USA, China and Hong Kong. Four athletes named in Australian Diving team for Sydney 2000 Olympics - Mathew Helm, Chantelle Michell, Robert Newbery and Dean Pullar. Robert and Dean combined to win an olympic bronze medal in the Men's 3m Synchronised event. AIS athletes make a significant contribution to the team finishing as the most successful Australian Olympic diving team ever.
1999
Five AIS athletes were selected in the Australian team for XI FINA Diving World Cup in Wellington, N.Z. Chantelle Michell won a silver medal in 1m Springboard and Tony Lawson and Mathew Helm won a silver medal in Platform Synchro. AIS athletes won fifteen medals at the Australian Championships in Southport, Queensland.
AIS athletes competed in FINA Diving Grand Prix events in Australia, Russia, Germany, China, Hong Kong, USA and Sweden. Chantelle Michell won a silver medal in 3m Springboard at the FINA Grand Prix Super Final in Mexico City, Mexico. Dean Pullar won a bronze medal in 1m Springboard at the World University Summer Games in Palma, Spain. Matthew Cooper won a silver medal in 14/15 years 1m Springboard at the FINA Junior World Diving Championships in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Matthew was also named "Yellow Pages Junior Male Sportsman of the Year".
1998
At the FINA World Championships in Perth, bronze medals were won by Chantelle Michell in 1m Springboard and Dean Pullar (with Shannon Roy ex-AIS) in 3m Synchro. Chantelle's result was the first ever medal by an Australian in diving at the World Championships. AIS athletes won ten medals at the Australian Championships in Sydney.
AIS athletes competed in FINA Diving Grand Prix events in Australia, China, Canada and USA. Chantelle Michell won a silver medal in 3m Springboard at the Goodwill Games in New York. AIS athletes won seven medals at the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Vyninka Arlow (gold in 10m), Chantelle Michell (gold in 1m & silver in 3m), Dean Pullar (silver in both 1m & 3m) and Robert Newbery (silver in 10m & bronze in 1m).
1997
Three AIS athletes were selected to represent Australia at the World University Summer Games in Sicily, Italy - Bindi Mansfield, Jodi Mansfield and Dean Pullar. Dean was named Australian Team Captain and won a bronze medal in 3m Springboard. Five AIS athletes were selected to represent Australia at the X FINA Diving World Cup in Mexico City, Mexico - Jodi Mansfield, Chantelle Michell, Loudy Tourky, Robert Newbery and Dean Pullar. Dean partnered Shannon Roy (ex-AIS) to win a silver medal in 3m Synchro. Robert Newbery won a bronze medal in 16/18 years 3m Springboard at the FINA Junior World Diving Championships in Penang, Malaysia.
1995-96
Bronze medals were won by Michael Murphy in 3m Springboard and Vyninka Arlow in Platform at the FINA Grand Prix event in Rostock, Germany. Vanessa Baker won a gold medal in Platform and Michael Murphy won a bronze medal in 3m Springboard at the FINA Grand Prix event in Fort Lauderdale, USA.
At the FINA Grand Prix event in Mexico, Loudy Tourky won a gold medal in 3m Springboard, Bindi Mansfield won a bronze medal in Platform and Michael Murphy won a silver medal in 3m Springboard and a bronze in Platform. Competing in one of the toughest diving events at the Atlanta Olympics, Michael Murphy placed a creditable sixth in the 3m Springboard event.
1994-95
Loudy Tourky finished ninth in the 16/18 years 3m Springboard at the FINA Junior World Diving Championships held in Guangzhou, China. Dean Pullar placed fourth in 3m Springboard and sixth in 1m Springboard at the World University Summer Games in Japan. Vyninka Arlow became only the second Australian to win a medal in World Cup competition when she won a bronze medal in Platform at the IX FINA Diving World Cup held in the Olympic pool in Atlanta, Georgia.
Other finalists included Michael Murphy who finished fifth in 3m Springboard and eighth in Platform, Vanessa Baker who placed eighth in 3m Springboard and Dean Pullar, finishing eighth in 1m Springboard. Australia ranked No. 4 diving nation in the world. AIS athletes won the six open events at the Australian Championships in Sydney.
1993-94
At the XV Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, Canada, Michael Murphy won gold medals in 3m Springboard and Platform and a silver medal in 1m Springboard. Michael followed up this result with seventh in 3m Springboard and eighth in Platform at the FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy.
1992-93
Yoplait Silhouette International Series of events started off the diving competition year with excellent performances from all AIS divers. In particular, Rachel Wilkes won a gold medal in 3m Springboard in Sydney and in Canberra, and Michael Murphy won a total of three gold medals, one in Sydney in 3m Springboard, and two in Canberra in 3m Springboard and Platform. Kelly Stevenson won a gold medal at the FINA Junior World Diving Championships in London, England in 14/15 years 3m Springboard.
1991-92
At the Olympic trials in Mildura, Victoria, five AIS athletes were chosen for the Olympic squad, and competed in the CanAmMex series in the USA before the final selection was made. The final team contained five AIS athletes out of a team of seven. This team produced Australia's best ever results in diving history at the Barcelona Olympics. The best result was Michael Murphy's fourth placing in the 3m Springboard event. Australia was ranked number five in the world.
1990-91
At the FINA World Championships, held in Perth, the AIS had finalists in five of a possible six events, and four AIS divers eventually finished in the top ten places. Simon McCormack created Australian diving history in winning the gold medal in the 1m Springboard event at the prestigious Alamo International diving meet in the USA. Simon also won Australia's first ever diving medal (bronze) at the World University Summer Games.
1989-90
At the XVI Commonwealth Games in Auckland, N.Z., Australia was again the top diving nation and AIS athletes won five of the six medals won by Australians. The divers also did well at the National Championships, the CanAmMex series and the China International meeting.
1988-89
AIS divers performed well at the Southern Cross events, and the National Championships. Four divers were chosen to represent Australia at the FINA Diving World Cup.
1987-88
After the National Championships, four AIS divers were selected to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
1986-87
At the XIII Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, AIS divers won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Australia's overall diving performance was the best since 1938, and Australia was the top diving nation at the Games.
1985-86
AIS divers performed well at the Junior World Diving Championships in Texas, USA, the World University Summer Games in Japan and the Southern Cross Series. At the National Championships, four divers won titles.
