Melissa Wu wants to push through to a fourth Olympics after success at the Commonwealth Games

MELISSA Wu says she is determined to push on to a fourth Olympics after winning a maiden individual title, not just for herself but for her sister Kirsten who died in 2014.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 12: Melissa Wu of Australia competes in the Women's 10m Platform Diving Final on day eight of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Optus Aquatic Centre on April 12, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

MELISSA Wu says she is determined to push on to a fourth Olympics after winning a maiden individual title on the Gold Coast diving with a patched-up body and an angel on her shoulder.

Having relied on discretionary selection to make the Games team after injuries prevented her from competing at last December’s trials, Wu defied ongoing neck, back and knee problems — and newly diagnosed torn cartilage in her wrist — to win the 10m platform event on Thursday night.

The victory, in her fourth Commonwealth Games 12 years after she won Australia’s hearts aged just 13, was as much for the woman “with me forever” as it was for Wu, whose sister Kirsten died suddenly in 2014.

Melissa Wu captured in action of the 10m diving final.

Coupled with injuries, it has been a tough four years for Wu, who took time out of the sport briefly in 2014 but is now determined to push on to Tokyo in 2020.

“I didn’t really retire, I just took much necessary time with my family,” Wu said.

“That was really tough and I think it gets tougher as time goes on honestly.

“Everybody forgets about it but it’s with me forever.”

Wu’s outstanding efforts on the international scene convinced selectors to name her in the Commonwealth Games team despite her absence from trials and their faith was rewarded, with Wu claiming Australia’s second gold of the meet and the first individual win.

“It’s a pretty good feeling to finally get there after all these years,” Wu said of a gold medal secured on her last dive of the final.

“It really was a special moment and to be able to do it in front of the crowd with all that support and everyone screaming, I couldn’t ask for a better feeling than that.

Melissa Wu after capturing gold in the 10m diving final.

“I was just really happy to be able to share that moment with my coaches Chava (Sobrino) and Joel (Rodriguez) and the support from other people who have helped me along the way as well … and my family, it was just an incredible moment.”

Pushing her 153cm frame through the G-Forces involved in thousands of impacts from the 10m platform has taken a massive toll on Wu’s body.

“I’ve been carrying a lot of injuries and really pushing through them this year,” Wu said.

“I missed the Commonwealth Games trials because of a knee injury and then I had a neck injury because I couldn’t take off properly on my knee, so that was bad.

“Last year I had stress fractures in my back.

Meliss Wu is determined to push through to a fourth Olympics.

“I’ve had a disc bulge for years, I’ve had a sore wrist for years.

“I had an MRI a couple of days ago so I can find out what it is because we’ve got to keep going this season — we’ve got a week at home before we start competing again — (and) I’ve got torn cartilage in my wrist so I’m going for a cortisone injection after this.”

Despite that, Wu is determined to push on to a fourth Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

“Tokyo, I definitely want to get there so I’m really pushing the next two-and-a-half years,” she said.

“I’ll try and recover my body after this season’s over and hopefully then put everything I can into getting to Tokyo.

Melissa Wu in action off the 10m tower

“I know I can push through it but it’s just the frustration — it’ just waking up and dealing with not one, not two, but multiple injuries at the same time.

“Having to pull back is probably the most frustrating part. You don’t want to go backwards but you’ve got to pull back a bit to go forwards.”

Originally published as Melissa Wu wants to push through to a fourth Olympics after success at the Commonwealth Games