Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney will join forces once again, named as the first divers to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The duo, who collected gold in Birmingham in the Women’s 3m Synchronised Springboard claimed bronze in the same event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Smith has been selected to her fourth Australian Olympic Team, while Keeney will contest her second Olympic Games in Paris after injury ruled her out of Tokyo 2020.
The selection comes a week after the pair achieved a gold medal finish at the Olympic Test event in Paris and World Championship silver earlier this year.
Despite living and training nearly 2000km apart with Smith in Melbourne and Keeney in Brisbane, the pair have shown they are in sync with multiple World Cup podiums throughout the season.
Anabelle will become just the fourth Australian diver to compete at four Games, joining Melissa Wu, Jenny Donnet and Loudy Wiggins.
Anabelle’s return to the top echelon of global divers marks a staggering return, with the 31-year-old suffering an achilles injury only 18 months ago.
She said she was proud to be selected for a fourth Australian Olympic Team.
“I have been fortunate to represent Australia for almost 15 years, and have had some incredible success, along with some really challenging times,” Smith said.
“To be announced on my fourth Olympic team, alongside Maddi, is an incredible feeling, and a testament to the work I’ve put in, but also to the team I have had around me.
Keeney, Queensland based, was thrilled to lock in selection for her second Australian Olympic Team.
“I am so happy and proud to be selected for the Games again. It’s a huge relief to have our 3-Metre Synchro selection locked in so I can focus on preparing for the rest of the Olympic Trials, and the Games themselves,” she said.
The duo’s 2024 World Championship silver earned them auto-nomination under Diving Australia’s nomination criteria, with Diving Australia’s national trials in June set to determine the rest of the squad for Paris.
The diving competition will be held at the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis from the 27 July to 10 August 2024.
With thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee and Diving Australia.
.@Qantas Olympic boarding pass no.4 for @AnabelleSmith93 and no.2 for Maddi Keeney!#AllezAUS | @DivingAus pic.twitter.com/ZH5AhQAqDb
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) May 20, 2024
Current Australian Olympic Diving Team (as at 21 May 2024)
| Name | Event | Age | State | Olympic Games Experience | Commonwealth Games Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anabelle Smith | Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard | 31 | VIC | Tokyo 2020 - 12th (Semi-Final); Rio 2016 - Bronze; London 2012 - 5th | Birmingham 2022 - Gold (Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard); Gold Coast 2018 - Bronze (Women's 3m Springboard); Glasgow 2014 - Bronze (Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard); Delhi 2010 - Bronze (Women's 10m Platform Synchronised) |
| Maddison Keeney | Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard | 28 | WA | Rio 2016 - Bronze (Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard); 5th (Women's 3m Springboard) | Birmingham 2022 - Gold (Women's 3m Springboard), Gold (Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard), Silver (Mixed 3m Synchronised Springboard); Gold Coast 2018 - Silver (Women's 3m Springboard); Glasgow 2014 - Silver (Women's 1m Springboard), Bronze (Women's 3m Synchronised Springboard) |
