Home

Commonwealth Games: WA’s Maddison Keeney strikes gold with partner Anabelle Smith in synchronised 3m final

Headshot of Carly Laden
Carly LadenThe West Australian
CommentsComments
VideoWA's Maddi Keeney has won diving gold at the Commonwealth Games.

WA diver Maddison Keeney has twisted and turned her way to Commonwealth Games gold with a stunning performance alongside longtime synchronised partner Anabelle Smith.

Keeney burst into tears at the realisation of finally achieving the ultimate after falling short with bronze in the same event back in 2014.

The duo wowed the judges to claim the gold medal in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final, with an impressive total score of 316.53.

SMETHWICK, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Gold medalists, Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Luce Smith of Team Australia pose with their medals during the medal ceremony for the Women's Synchronised 3m Springboard Final on day nine of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatics Centre on August 06, 2022 on the Smethwick, England. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Camera IconSMETHWICK, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Gold medalists, Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Luce Smith of Team Australia pose with their medals during the medal ceremony for the Women's Synchronised 3m Springboard Final on day nine of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatics Centre on August 06, 2022 on the Smethwick, England. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Keeney and Smith got off to a solid start, managing a score of 49.80 off a back dive and improved with a reverse dive for their second round to get a score of 49.20.

The Game AFL 2024

Individual silver medallist Brittany O’Brien and partner Esther Qin also managed a solid start of their own, with scores of 46.80 and 45.60 for their first two dives.

Keeney and Smith then stepped it up with an inward 2 1/2 somersault for their third dive to receive a score of 71.60 to consolidate first place at the halfway point, while O’Brien and Qin managed 64.80 to remain in fourth place.

The fourth round of dives saw Keeney & Smith continue to rake in the big points, managing 75.33 for their stunning forward 3 1/2 somersault to start building up a lead.

O’Brien and Qin faltered in their fourth dive, managing a score of 46.80 to put themselves into fifth place.

Despite strong efforts from the Malaysian duo of Yan Yee Ng & Nur Dhabitah Binti Sabri (299.85) and Canadians Margo Erlam & Mia Vallee (297.00), Keeney & Smith’s final dive seemed to put the exclamation mark on their gold medal win, scoring 71.10 off a forward 2 1/2 somersault and a twist.

Following the event, Smith said she felt “really proud” to bring home the gold.

“Madi and I have been together for a long time but we had never won this Commonwealth Games gold medal,” she said.

“And we knew that we had put in the hard work to get it and we knew that we were good enough to stand on top of the podium.

“To actually be there today is really special.”

Keeney said their Gold Coast flop, which saw them enter as favourites but leave in last place four years ago, made their Birmingham triumph particularly “sweet”.

“It just feels like a culmination of what I have learnt as a diver and how to overcome nerves and how I approach my competition,” she said.

“So being able to do that is really just shows me what I am capable of.

“We have been diving together for eight years and there has been so many tough times over the years.

“I am just really proud ... it’s a dream.”

O’Brien & Qin finished the event in fifth place with a total score of 268.80.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails