Wellington diver Li Feng Yangs has been confirmed today to the Commonwealth Games team. Joining seventeen year old Liam Stone in the 3m springboard event, Li will also contest the spectacular 10m platform dive and is aiming for a top three finish.
His naming to the team also means New Zealand can enter a team in the 3m synchronised pairs event for the first time in Commonwealth Games history.
A former elite diver in his native China, Li transferred to coaching after a small injury. Success in this role led him to New Zealand in 2010 where he took up a role as Assistant Coach at Wellington High Performance Aquatics. Now making a comeback into the world of competitive diving, the 24-year old is managing the dual roles of coach and athlete. While challenging, Olympic Diving Judge and Diving New Zealand Board Member Simon Latimer says Li has struck an excellent balance and is producing credible results.
Feng Yang is capable of performing dives to an extremely high standard and was awarded 10 points from some of the international judges at a recent competition in Puerto Rico. He is the best platform diver New Zealand has ever had.
Feng Yang wants to represent New Zealand at the highest level and is aiming to finish in the top three in the mens platform in Glasgow. He also has his eyes set on the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
New Zealand has won four bronze medals in Commonwealth Games diving, the last at Auckland in 1990 by Nicky Cooney in the 3m springboard.
Commonwealth Games diving takes place in Edinburgh at the renovated Royal Commonwealth Pool, the 1986 Commonwealth Games swimming and diving venue.