Paris Olympics 2024: Melissa Wu ready for historic fifth campaign after overcoming injury woes

Melissa Wu finally feels like she has conquered her injury dramas and can set about creating more history after securing an ‘incredible’ selection in a nine-person Australian diving team.

Melissa Wu is raring to go ahead of the Paris Olympics. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Melissa Wu finally feels like she has conquered her injury dramas and can set about creating more history after securing an “incredible” selection for a fifth Olympic Games in a nine-person Australian diving team.

Wu and world champion Cassiel Rousseau headline the diving team after the Australian Olympic Committee added a further seven divers to the team on Monday that already included Anabelle Smith and Maddi Keeney.

Rousseau and Domonic Bedggood will both contest their second Olympics, while Jaxon Bowshire, Kurtis Mathews, Alysha Koloi and 17-year-old Ellie Cole will all make their debut.

Wu will become the first Australian diver to compete at five Olympics, overcoming years crippled by serious back issues to secure her selection for Paris.

Melissa Wu gets her ticket to Paris. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“It’s a pretty incredible thing to achieve five Olympic Teams,” Wu said.

“Having made the team now I can look back on achieving something pretty special.

“Getting through trials, I knew it was going to be tough, there’s so many talented young athletes coming through. Now I can set my sights on Paris – I’ll focus on the process, if I can get that right hopefully the result will take care of itself.

“I’ve been lucky to have a really long career. I’ve had a few injuries the past few years and my diving hasn’t been the best, but now I feel like I’m finally getting back into form and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to continue to work back towards what I know I’m capable of.”

Melissa Wu (R) ahead of their debut Olympic Games in 2008.

Team deputy chef de mission Kaarle McCullouch praised Wu’s commitment to still be on the Olympic team after making her debut as a 16-year-old at Beijing in 2008.

“To make one Olympic Team is a rare feat. To become the first Australian in your sport to make five Games is a special achievement, and is testament to the character and commitment to excellence that Mel has displayed over almost two decades,” McCulloch said.

Rousseau, the world 10m platform champion, is Australia’s best medal contender in what could be a historic family doubt in Paris with his late grandfather Michel Rousseau winning gold for France at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in track cycling.

He will compete in the individual 10m platform and the synchro event with Bedggood.

“My mum grew up in Paris and my grandfather won Olympic gold for France. In terms of our family history it’s massive, I just love Paris,” he said.

“Being a world champion hasn’t changed my mindset on how I compete or how I see my competitors. I just want to gain more experience as I’m still relatively new to the sport.”

Originally published as Paris Olympics 2024: Melissa Wu ready for historic fifth campaign after overcoming injury woes