Elvis overcomes fear and injury to claim gold in the nationals

Slowly making his way back: Elvis Priestly Clement is not fully satisfied with his performance yet.

KUALA LUMPUR: Botching a platform dive routine and sustaining a spinal injury may be enough to scare off any newcomer but not Elvis Priestly Clement.

It has instead strengthened his resolve to shake off the psychological fear and become a better diver for Malaysia.

The 20-year-old Sarawakian delivered a standout performance by winning the men’s 10m platform individual event at the national diving trials in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Elvis amassed 412.90 points, surpassing the Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) of 380 despite still recovering from a recent injury.

Back-up diver Mohd Anilrian Abdullah finished second on 403.50 points while Paris Olympian Bertrand Rhodict was third with 393.15.

Elvis had partnered Enrique Maccartney Harold to clinch gold in the men’s 10m platform synchro event on Saturday.

For Elvis, his performance this week was a redemption of sorts after what he experienced in training a month ago.

“I had an incident on the platform a month ago and I am still recovering from it.

“I had a hairline fracture on the spine and also concussion from the impact.

“I still have this fear of diving and what if it happened again. This competition was to recover my self confidence and I am glad I still can manage my dives,” said Elvis.

His performance may be short of his best of 432.90 points recorded at the World Championships in Singapore last year.

But it is progress for Elvis as he slowly makes his way back into competitive diving.

“I’m not fully satisfied with my performance as I am not at 100 per cent yet but I will keep improving,” he added.

Yong Rui Jie also stamped his mark with a personal best 407.60 points to win the men’s 3m springboard competition.

It is the third gold for Rui Jie having won the 1m springboard and 3m springboard synchro with Nurqayyum on Saturday.

RESULTS

Men

3m springboard: 1. Yong Rui Jie 407.60, 2. Mohd Syafiq Puteh 399.90, 3. Mohd Nurqayyum Nazmi Nazim 356.00.

10m platform: 1. Elvis Priestly Anak Clement 412.90, 2. Mohd Anilrian Abdullah 403.50, 3. Bertrand Rhodict 393.15.

Women

3m springboard: 1. Ong Ker Ying 237.30, 2. Lee Yiat Qing 227.50, 3. Jannah Uzlifatil 199.80.

10m platform: 1. Pandelela Rinong 292.05, 2. Nur Eilisha Rania 283.15, 3. Lee Yiat Qing 266.80.