SA diver Sam Mills qualifies for World Championships

SAM Mills isn’t sure why she and synchronised diving partner Esther Qin have clicked so quickly, but it’s a combination that has helped them qualify for the World Championships.

08/05/15 - Diver Sam Mills, 23, of Port Noarlunga has made the World Championships team. Pictured at the State Aquatics Centre. Photo Tom Huntley

SAM Mills isn’t sure why she and synchronised diving partner Esther Qin have been able to combine so flawlessly with virtually no preparation.

But the Port Noarlunga rising star says the partnership “just works”.

“We don’t spend anywhere near as much time practising together as other pairs, but I think we just have a good understanding of one another and it just works,’’ Mill says.

Mills and NSW-based Qin were thrown together for the 3m synchro event at the national championships last December with virtually no preparation.

They came agonisingly close to winning the title.

In the six months since, they have had a series of strong results and were last week named in Australia’s team to compete at the World Championships in Russia in August.

That is despite only training together on a handful of occasions

“I think one of the secrets is great communication and we also try to have fun and not get too nervous before we dive,’’ says Mills.

Mills’ selection for her first senior Australian team caps a brilliant six months which has seen her continue her transition from gymnast and to world class diver.

She upstaged more fancied rivals to win the Australian 3m springboard title in December and is considered a strong contender for selection in Australia’s 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games team in both the individual and synchro events.

Mills puts her progress in part down to switching to Canadian coach Michel Larouche and a focus on tightening up in a few technical issues.

“Michel has worked on a few of my little weaknesses and he’s been a real perfectionist which was what I needed,’’ she says.

“It’s all about becoming a more complete diver in the individual (3m springboard) this year to give myself the best chance of making it to Rio.”