Olympic diving preview: Melissa Wu, Maddison Keeney, Brittany Broben hold Australian hopes for Rio

MELISSA Wu, Maddison Keeney and Brittany Broben hold the keys to Australia’s Olympic diving medal aspirations in Rio. Here’s why.

Melissa Wu is the Australian diving team captain. Picture: Alex Coppel

MELISSA Wu, Maddison Keeney and Brittany Broben hold the keys to Australia’s Olympic diving medal aspirations in Rio.

Wu has come a long way from the diminutive 13-year-old who looked in danger of being blown off the 10m platform by a stiff breeze when she made her international debut at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Now 24, she is still standing tall for Australia.

Melissa Wu will captain the Australian diving team in Rio. Picture: Alex Coppel.

She’s come a long way from the 13-year-old 2006 Commonwealth Games darling.

The national captain has overcome some incredible obstacles including a chronic back problem and a family tragedy.

The Beijing Olympics silver medallist appears back to her best ahead of her third Olympic Games.

Kiwi-born Maddison Keeney is considered a Rio X-factor in the 3m springboard and 3m synchro.

The 20-year-old’s tall frame can exact unprecedented height on dives, giving her the best chance to execute the highest degree of difficulty — and points.

If Maddison Keeney can get over her yips, she is a key Aussie diving hope. Picture: Liam Kidston.

One of world diving’s most gifted athletes, she is also one of the most nervous.

A stutter and fall off the board cost her a medal at the 2015 world titles, sadly becoming a YouTube novelty hit.

She also baulked at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, costing her gold.

Brittany Broben was living the dream when she nabbed the 10m platform silver in London as a 16-year-old.

But it has been a nightmare since then.

Broben has battled shoulder complaints since her Games triumph, forcing her to miss the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 world titles.

She dislocated her shoulder during Rio trials, but got the Olympic nod on selectors’ discretion. She will be out to make up for lost time at Rio.

HOW DIVING WORKS AT THE OLYMPICS

■ The diving pool is 25m long and 5m deep

There are four men’s and four women’s events: 3m springboard, 10m platform, synchronised 3m springboard and synchronised 10m platform

■ Divers must qualify in a preliminary round to reach the final

■ Divers submit in advance the dives they will perform, with a higher degree of difficulty earning a higher score if executed correctly

■ Judges award a score out of 10 for each dive, which is multiplied by the dive’s degree of difficulty

■ In the synchronised events, pairs of athletes dive in tandem and are assessed for their execution and synchronisation by separate groups of judges.

■ Dives are judged on the starting position, the takeoff, the dive itself and entry into the water.

Originally published as Olympic diving preview: Melissa Wu, Maddison Keeney, Brittany Broben hold Australian hopes for Rio