It has been six years since New Zealand was represented at diving's World Junior Championships. But a Wellington teenager is about to change that.
Alice Wylie Van Eerd is putting the spring back into our diving hopes for future Olympic Games.
Diver Alice Wylie Van Eerd practises everyday in an endless quest for excellence. But there is a pay-off for the repetitive slog.
“I’m a perfectionist and I just love that feeling of getting it right and consistently getting it right is really a good feeling,” says Alice.
That buzz once came from gymnastics, a sport with obvious springboard diving crossover. But At 13 she quit gym, and just sort of fell into diving.
“My mum didn't want me to be lazy on the couch so she signed me up for diving lessons. I thought she meant scuba diving,” laughs Alice.
New Zealand’s return to treading the boards on the world stage is mainly thanks to her Chinese coach Steven Zhu.
He is back from Australia and advising his high flying pupil ahead of her first international competition.
“During the training we use the training system to increase self confidence,” says Zhu.
Confidence and control the 18-year-old student practises 20 hours a week ahead of next month's World Champs in Germany.
“You have to be very focussed on what you do but at the same time not screw it up,” sasy Alice.
And if Wylie Van Eerd can stay balanced, she should not be out of her depth at the 2012 London Olympics.
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