Kurtis springs into 3m final

Kurtis Mathews has sprung into the final of the Men’s 3m Springboard, following an incredible 11th place finish.

In a remarkable show of tenacity and grit, Kurtis’ final dive propelled him from 14th position into the top 12, securing his qualification with a total score of 417.15.

His first two dives settled his nerves and proved to be solid ones, placing him 11th after the second round.

But a challenging competition that saw all divers step up into another gear from qualifications had Kurtis fall to 16th at the end of the fourth round.

His fifth dive improved his placing to 14th, but it was his final dive – a tucked forward 4½ somersault that scored 79.80 – which was enough to confirm his spot in the final.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m a bit speechless at the moment,” Kurtis said, of his qualification to the final.

“You try and approach it the exact same as any other competition, but you know in the back of your head it’s the Olympics.

“I just stick to my routines and rinse and repeat.”

Kurtis’ qualification to the final caps a remarkable return to the sport, following his retirement after a collegiate career.

Claiming the only Australian diving spot for the Men’s 3m Springboard event, he’s now focused on soaking up the atmosphere and relishing the final.

“I really enjoy being here and I love competition,” he said.

“Tomorrow, I just want to have a good performance. It’d be nice if I could get close to my personal best, but I made it and that’s all that really matters.

Kurtis will now compete in the final of the Men’s 3m Springboard on Thursday 8 August at 11pm AEST.

Article courtesy of the AOC