Broben cleared for Rio diving tilt

Selectors' discretion has ensured injury plagued London Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben will be part of Australia's nine strong Rio diving team.

Yet another shoulder injury has not stopped London Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben earning selection for the Rio Games diving team.

Selectors' discretion has ensured Broben is on her second Olympic team after her Rio hopes appeared dashed when she dislocated her shoulder and pulled out of the 10m final at the trials in Melbourne last month.

The 20-year-old has been troubled by shoulder injuries since her London podium finish, forcing her to miss the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and last year's world titles.

She will contest the 10m platform event with team leader and three-time Olympian Melissa Wu.

Broben was not the only member of the nine-strong team who had to rely on selectors' powers to earn a Rio nod.

Recently naturalised Australian Kevin Chavez earned a three-metre springboard spot ahead of James Connor after an appeal.

Chavez and veteran Grant Nel will contest the three-metre event.

Mexico born Chavez only received the all-clear from diving's world governing body FINA to be able to qualify for Australia 10 days before the May trials in Melbourne.

London Olympian Connor had hoped to be picked for the men's springboard after just missing a top two spot behind eventual winner Nel and runner up Chavez in the Rio trials three-metre final.

The other talking point was Maddison Keeney and London Olympian Anabelle Smith being picked for the three-metre synchro event.

Esther Qin and Samantha Mills claimed three-metre synchro bronze at the 2015 world titles, ensuring Australia earned a spot in the event at Rio.

But Keeney and Smith will contest the event at Rio after upstaging Qin and Mills at the trials in Melbourne.

Australia are hoping to make the podium at their fifth straight Olympics.

China have won 25 of 31 diving medals since Atlanta 1996 and won six of eight gold on offer at London.

Australia have only ever won three diving gold and 12 medals total.

Australia's Rio diving squad: Maddison Keeney (3m springboard, 3m synchro), Anabelle Smith (3m synchro), Esther Qin (3m springboard), Melissa Wu, (10m platform), Brittany Broben (10m platform), Grant Nel (3m springboard), Kevin Chavez (3m springboard), Domonic Bedggood (10m platform), James Connor (10m platform).


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Source: AAP



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