Kurtis Mathews makes final in 2024 Paris Olympic Games 3m springboard

Kurtis Mathews had 14 months to ditch 14kg and return to the pool with a dream Paris start on the cards. Now he’s in the 3m springboard final at the Olympics.

An incredible final dive has launched Kurtis Mathews into the 3m men’s springboard final - but it was a bittersweet moment for the debutant - who took the spot at the expense of his friend, Jamaican diver Yona Knight-Wisdom.

Going into the final dive Mathews, who struggled with consistency in the semi-final, was in 14th place, just 3.65 points behind 12th placed Knight-Wisdom.

Mathews doesn’t look at the scoreboard during competition - he was oblivious to the precarious position he was in.

“My coach basically said make it a good one, make it count, and it was just good enough, “ Mathews said.

The final dive, a forward 4.5 somersaults tucked was Mathews most difficult dive on his list - he scored 79.80 for it - his highest score of the semi-final.

It put him through in 11th place ahead of Knight-Wisdom who ended in 14th.

Kurtis Mathews makes the 3m diving final. Picture: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Mathews said it was the hard part of the sport - especially as everyone on the circuit has been friends for many years.

“I think diving is unique in that way, we have a culture where we don’t really have rivalries. It’s such a hard sport in the first place that we all support each other.

“Diving is very dangerous and we are trying to do something beautiful so when somebody gets it, it doesn’t matter if they’re from China, Jamaica or Australia, you cheer them on. Most of us have known each other since we were 13, 14 years old when we first stepped on the world stage.”

Mathews is the first Aussie man in 12 years to make an Olympic 3m springboard final.

The 25-year-old, at his debut Olympics, only returned to the sport 13 months ago after retiring and taking up rugby union.

He has undergone a massive transformation to get himself in peak condition for the Paris Games.

Mathews will compete in the final at 11pm on Thursday (AEST).

90kg rugby player to Paris diver: Kurtis’ wild transformation

The way he flips, twists and enters the water with hardly a ripple, it is hard to believe that a little over a year ago Kurtis Mathews was a 90kg rugby union half back.

The 25-year-old retired from diving in 2022 after winning the men’s 1m and 3m springboard events at the NCAA- the first Australian to complete the feat.

He bested a number of Tokyo Olympians and decided that after 15 years that would be enough - even if he had never made the Olympics himself.

Mathews returned to rugby union, a sport he had enjoyed as a kid growing up in Queensland.

A phone call with Rio Olympian turned coach Kevin Chavers changed his attitude and before he knew it Mathews was back training in the pool.

Kurtis Mathews was playing rugby when he was asked to think about Paris. Picture: Getty Images

“I thought, alright I’ll give it one more chance so I came back to Sydney and I had 13-14 months to prepare,” he said.

“I had to lose 14 kilos to get back into shape.

“It was brutal.”

Mathews said it took a strict calorie deficit diet and plenty of time in a stationary bike to get his fitness back.

His dedication paid off.

At the 2024 Doha World Championships he finished 32nd.

In his debut Olympic semi-final he finished 8th.

There had been a moment when those watching wondered if he would make the cut - a far from perfect fourth dive leaving him in 16th place.

Mathews was oblivious to it all as he never checks the scoreboard.

Kurtis Mathews has dived his way to an Olympic final. Picture: Getty Images

“For me none of the dives are connected,” Mathews said.

“So it’s just six individual dives and you focus on each one.

“As soon as dive four is done, I don’t even think about it until maybe a couple of days later.”

Mathews never expected an amazing score from his fourth dive, he deliberately puts the dives he struggles with at third and fourth on his list. Opting to start and finish strong.

The debutant will compete in the semi final on Wednesday night. He needs to finish in the top 12 to make the final.

“That was my goal coming into these Olympics was to make a final,” he said.

“But if that wasn’t the case and I don’t make it through I’d be disappointed in the short term but also be okay with it because I’ve already achieved everything that I wanted to.”

The semi-final will take place 6pm Wednesday (AEST).

Originally published as Kurtis Mathews makes final in 2024 Paris Olympic Games 3m springboard