SHAH ALAM: Elvis Priestly Clement buried the trauma of a painful back injury to soar to his third diving gold for Sarawak at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) on Saturday (Aug 22).
The 20-year-old’s triumph in his signature event meant even more as he continues to regain his confidence after injuring his back while attempting a new dive at the Thailand SEA Games last December.
"The injury is no longer there and I feel okay but the trauma is still there when I have to jump from 10m," said Elvis.
"I am trying hard to overcome it," said Elvis, who was pleased to improve from his previously tally of two gold medals at the last Sarawak Games.
Elvis plunged superbly with 76.80, 69.00, 70.20, 56.10, 44.20 and 81.20 for a six-dive total of 397.30 points in his pet event at Akuatik Selangor.
His teammate Jared Aiden Harold came in a close second on 396.20 points while Sabah's Anilrian Normatrud Abdullah (340.65) completed the podium.
Elvis, who was named after rock legend Elvis Presley and also has a sister named Madonna, added he was beginning to feel the strain of competing four days in a row.
"This is the fourth day in a row that I have been competing so I was feeling a bit fatigued," he said.
"With the weather being so hot today, I also felt a bit dizzy.
"I guess I was lucky to overtake (Jared) at the last minute but congratulations to him too, as he is one of the best divers out there.
"I still made a lot of mistakes today but I got lucky. I will have to work to improve on these areas in the future."
Elvis had won the boys' 3m springboard synchro gold with Awang Sharzan Nasaruddin as well as the platform synchro with Jared earlier this week.
He will dive in the mixed platform synchro with Nur Eilisha Rania on the final day of competition on Sunday (Aug 23).
RESULTS
Men's 10m platform individual: 1. Elvis Priestly Anak Clement (Swk) 397.30, 2. Jared Aiden Harold (Swk) 396.20, 3. Mohd Anilrian Normatrud (Sab) 340.65.
Women's 3m springboard synchro: 1. Dayang Nursharzyra Awang Nasaruddin-Nur Eilisha Rania (Swk) 221.01, 2. Teng Hui Xue-Lee Yiat Qing (FT) 217.56, 3. Uzlifatil Jannah-Ayu Shuhaida Khairul (Sel) 209.01.
