Australia’s evergreen diving star Melissa Wu has endured a uncommon off-day on the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, ending final of the 12 opponents within the 10 metre platform last.
In 2021, Wu completed third behind the then prodigious 14-year-old champion Quan Hongchan and 15-year-old Chen Yuxi within the Tokyo Olympic last.
Nonetheless, lower than three years on, the dominant Chinese language teenage pair underlined their favouritism for a repeat one-two in Paris with one other dazzling efficiency.
Wu in the meantime, struggled to recapture her finest.
The 31-year-old, comfortably the oldest diver to qualify for Monday’s last in Qatar, has had numerous health struggles since her Japanese success story, struggling a well-publicised again damage throughout filming for the truth quasi-military coaching TV present, SAS Australia.
The Sydneysider subsequently bounced again with a 10m synchro platform gold on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games.
However the serial medallist, having certified in eighth within the morning for the ultimate, had a disastrous begin within the afternoon showdown, when her first of 5 dives was adjudged the worst of all 12 finalists.
Taking part in catch-up, she picked up a good decrease rating on her penultimate dive, successfully consigning her to final place.
Her last complete of 267.10 was greater than 104 factors down on her Tokyo Olympics rating.
In Japan, she had completed 94.8 behind Quan, however in Doha she was 169.15 adrift of the now 16-year-old champion, who had one spectacular dive rewarded with 4 judges awarding her a most 10.
“After this competitors, my subsequent goal is the Olympic gold,” Quan stated.
“I need to make extra progress sooner or later. There aren’t any limits.”
Chen, now 18, was simply 8.45 factors down on her teammate, whereas Britain’s Andrea Spendolini Sirieix was a distant third on 377.10.
Within the water polo, Australia’s males suffered an early setback, shedding their opening recreation 13-8 to Croatia — who’re but to qualify for this 12 months’s Video games, needing a powerful exhibiting in Doha.
The Sharks had been blown away early by the current European silver medallists, falling behind 7-1 early within the second quarter.
Tim Hamill, the Sharks’ head coach, conceded that the primary half was “very disappointing”.
“We have been actually pleased with our preparation and had a very good tour by means of Europe in December with Greece and Italy,” Hamill stated.
“We hosted Japan in January, so we have been actually blissful. Nonetheless, the primary half of the sport at the moment was very disappointing for us.
“I am unsure whether or not the second acquired to us, whether or not in our heads a bit of bit, nerves, so we’ll have a look at the sport this afternoon and assess all that … however we have to begin our recreation significantly better.”
The Sharks subsequent play South Africa on Wednesday, who had been equally humbled by European Champions Spain 21-5.
AAP/ABC
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