The New Zealand Olympic Committee together with Diving New Zealand has named an additional three divers to the New Zealand Commonwealth Games Team.
Wellington 18 year old Anton Down-Jenkins has been named to contest the 3m men’s individual diving event and 3m synchronised springboard diving event (alongside Liam Stone).
Above: Anton Down-Jenkins competing
He’ll be joined on the Gold Coast by Zimbabwe born 31 year old Shaye Boddington who’ll compete in the 1m women’s springboard diving event.
The other addition to the diving team is 18 year old Yu Qian Goh who will contest the 3m women’s synchronised springboard diving event (alongside Lizzie Cui).
Above: You Qian Goh competing
NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith extended her congratulations to the athletes.
"It’s fantastic to be adding three exciting athletes to the diving team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games," she said.
“These athletes are all making their Games debuts and I look forward to seeing them compete for New Zealand with pride and honour.”
Diving New Zealand Board Member Simon Latimer says the athletes have earned their spots in the Commonwealth Games Team.
“Yu Qian and Anton had excellent results at FINA Diving Grand Prix Events in 2017 in their debut year on the senior international circuit. Both picked up bronze medals in their respective synchronised events in the Puerto Rico leg. Both Yu Qian and Anton will learn a great deal diving with Lizzie Cui and Liam Stone (their more experienced peers) in the synchronised diving events in the Gold Coast. Anton and Yu Qian have a bright future in diving and have accepted university scholarships in the USA for 2018,” Latimer said.
“Shaye has made a remarkable comeback to diving after over a decade out of the sport. She has only been back in the water just over a year and her selection is a result of raw talent and extremely hard work. Shaye had a strong result in the 1m springboard at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest which helped secure her selection in that event. Like Yu Qian and Anton, Shaye ultimately has her sights set on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“This is the first time that New Zealand has had more than two divers selected for any edition of the Commonwealth Games since 1990. Diving New Zealand is thrilled with this outcome and expects this will provide inspiration to our top junior divers.”
The athletes were selected as part of the final round of individual athlete allocation quotas.
The addition brings the number of diving representatives in the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team to 5.
The naming takes the total number of athletes selected to the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team to 118.