By Farah Najihah Zuraimi
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- Eyes can only see, but the shoulders bear the weight. This phrase aptly describes the situation of Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Bertrand Rhodict Lises, who now carry the challenge of restoring national pride in diving at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Reflecting on the recent challenges in diving, Bertrand Rhodict stands as the sole diver to secure a merit slot for the men's 10-metres (m) platform event. Malaysia faced a near ‘dark moment’ as no female diver was to compete in the biggest sporting event on the planet for the first time in 24 years.
However, fortune smiled as Nur Dhabitah received an unexpected opportunity through an unused quota from other countries' athletes in the women's 3m springboard event at the last minute. Despite this, the absence of star diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong raises questions about the national squad's potential performance in the fashion capital.
Moreover, the 'Great Wall' of China, along with several other nations, remains formidable and difficult to conquer in the events where our divers will compete.
According to the website World Aquatics, Bertrand Rhodict, who achieved a personal best of 442.35 points in the men's 10m platform at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, faces a tough challenge as China's Cao Yuan, the reigning Olympic gold medallist with 582.35 points, will also compete in Paris.
The 140-point difference is significant, but Bertrand is reportedly closing the gap by mastering dives with a difficulty degree of 3.7 and 3.6, aiming to impress the judges.
Throughout his career, the 19-year-old diver has made podium finishes in World Aquatics recognised events four times, earning three bronze medals, in the 2023 Asian Games (men's 10m synchronised), the 2018 Diving Grand Prix (men's 10m synchronised), and the 2023 Malaysian Open Diving Championships (men's 10m platform).
He won gold at the 2023 Malaysian Open Diving Championships with 364.14 points in the men's 10m synchronised event.
Meanwhile, Nur Dhabitah, who came in fourth in the women's 3m springboard at the last Olympics with 326.15 points, needs to find about 17 more points to reach the podium based on the medal-winning scores from Tokyo 2020.
In Tokyo, two Chinese divers, Tingmao Shi and Han Wang, won gold (383.50 points) and silver (348.75 points) respectively, while Krysta Palmer from the United States won bronze with 343.75 points.
Although diving fans will miss the prowess of these three athletes as they are not listed to compete, the presence of two Chinese divers, Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani, in Paris should be feared as they each have personal bests of 404.70 points and 363.75 points.
Clearly, the benchmark for the 3m springboard has risen, making it challenging for Nur Dhabitah, whose last performance before the Olympics at the 2024 Doha World Aquatics Championships only managed to score 238.15 points.
National diving team technical director Bryan Nickson Lomas said that Nur Dhabitah's last-minute inclusion reduces the pressure on Bertrand Rhodict, expressing confidence that both athletes can support each other in Paris.
“Our target is to see them in the final, but now it’s more comfortable to plan step by step. Think preliminary to semi-final, then to the final,” he told Bernama.
Pandelela was the first Malaysian female athlete to win a medal at the Olympics, securing bronze in the women's 10m platform at the 2012 London edition. In the 2016 Rio edition, she partnered with Cheong Jun Hoong to win silver in the women's 10m synchronised platform.
-- BERNAMA
