Cassiel Rousseau to defend world diving title as Paris Olympics loom
Cassiel Rousseau will defend his 10m platform title in February at the world diving championships. Photo: Getty
Leading Australian Olympic medal hope Cassiel Rousseau has a dual mission next February at the world diving championships.
Rousseau will defend his 10m platform crown in Doha after becoming the first Australian to win a world title in the event this July.
That qualified an Olympic quota berth for the 10m platform, which Rousseau is expected to fill.
He will also combine with Olympian Domonic Bedggood in the 10m synchronised platform and aim to qualify a Paris quota spot in that event as well.
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The Australian diving team, announced on Thursday, is yet to qualify Olympic quota positions in the four synchronised events – the men’s and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform.
Australia can also qualify one position in the women’s 10m platform and another in the men’s 3m springboard.
Rousseau’s world title is one of six country quotas that Australia has secured in individual diving events for the Games.
Melissa Wu will return to individual competition at the worlds for the first time since she won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
She will compete in the 10m platform and also has been selected alongside her Birmingham Commonwealth Games 10m synchronised gold medal partner Charli Petrov in that event.
But Petrov did not compete at a four-day trial event in Brisbane as she recovers from a stress fracture in her back.
She was added to the world championships team through a special consideration clause in the selection policy and must still prove her fitness.
World Aquatics Championships team
MEN: Shixin Li (1m & 3m springboard), Kurtis Mathews (1m springboard, 3m springboard, 3m springboard synchronised), Sam Fricker (3m springboard synchronised), Cassiel Rousseau (10m platform, 10m platform synchronised), Domonic Bedggood (10m platform synchronised), Jaxon Bowshire (10m platform).
WOMEN: Maddison Keeney (3m springboard, 3m springboard synchronised), Anabelle Smith (3m springboard synchronised), Alysha Koloi (1m, 3m springboard), Nikita Hains (10m platform), Melissa Wu (10m platform, 10m platform synchronised), Charli Petrov (10m platform synchronised), Brittany O’Brien (1m springboard).
-AAP