Commonwealth Games: Australia’s James Connor wins bronze in 3m springboard final

JAMES Connor has sealed his second medal of the diving program after finishing third in the 3m springboard final after a seesawing battle for the minor medals.

James Connor on his way to winning bronze in the 3m springboard final at the Commonwealth Games.

JAMES Connor has sealed his second medal of the diving program after finishing third in the 3m springboard final after a seesawing battle for the minor medals.

Just as he did in the 1m competition, England’s Jack Laugher dominated the competition, winning the gold medal by 66.7 points.

Connor moved into second place after two dives but could not hold off Canadian Philippe Gagne, who built his degree of difficulty through his list and finished with a pair of strong scores to overhaul the Australian.

After picking up silver in the 1m on the opening day of competition, Connor headed into the 3m high on confidence and did not disappoint, sealing a second medal of the contest.

Australia’s James Connor (right) with silver medallist Phillipe Gagne of Canada and gold medallist Jack Laugher of England on Thursday.

The 22-year-old, who is on a sporting scholarship at the University of Indiana and credits constant competition in the NCAA system for helping him improve, has had an outstanding Games eight years after making his senior international debut in Delhi.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Carter finished sixth but held the lead briefly after nailing his opening dive, a forward two-and-a-half somersault with two twists that scored 81.60.

The divers were thrown another challenge when scattered rain started midway through the contest but coped well in the conditions.

Meanwhile, world champion diver Maddison Keeney has been ruled out of her pet 1m springboard event with Australian officials determined to manage her workload as she battles shin splints.

James Connor on his way to winning bronze in the 3m springboard final at the Commonwealth Games.

The 21-year-old was due to compete in the heats of the 1m on Friday morning but has withdrawn to concentrate on the individual 3m on Saturday and was wearing a moon boot on her left leg on Thursday night while watching Australian teammates diving in the 3m springboard competition.

Keeney had been on a reduced training load heading into the Games but managed well through the synchronised 3m springboard, leading the competition with partner Anabelle Smith into the final round before disaster struck in the final dive, with Keeney becoming disoriented through her twisting manoeuvre and hitting the water on her back, registering a “no dive”.

Officials decided to rest Keeney ahead of the 3m to lighten her load.

It’s a blow for the competition but a decision that has also been taken by English champion Tom Daley, who has been scratched from the individual platform competition at these Games to protect a hip injury.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games: Australia’s James Connor wins bronze in 3m springboard final