Entering his first international meet in more than a year, Matthew Mitcham's Australian teammate says the Beijing Olympic diving champion is more determined than ever to contest the 2016 Rio Games.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Domonic Bedggood believes Mitcham wants to keep diving while "his body holds up" and says the 27-year-old is looking good ahead of this week's Gold Coast Grand Prix event.
Mitcham and national captain Melissa Wu spearhead a full-strength Australian team against heavyweights China, United States, Canada, Germany and Malaysia at the debut four-day Gold Coast FINA Grand Prix round starting on Thursday.
Mitcham returns to the international pool for the first time since the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where he claimed one gold and two silver.
He contested May's world titles selection trials but did not qualify for the championships in Russia, instead spending the time recovering from an elbow injury and juggling a growing profile outside the pool.
He has a successful touring cabaret act and also impressed in this season's Dancing with the Stars TV show.
"He's been out of the diving circuit for almost a year now," Bedggood told AAP of his 10m platform synchro partner Mitcham.
"The Commonwealth Games was his last international competition.
"But he wants to keep doing it (while) his body holds up.
"He is aiming for Rio. He is determined and dedicated to get there."
Bedggood said Mitcham's drive was rubbing off on him.
"He's a great mentor. He keeps me calm up there," he said.
"He's a just a very genuine person, a good influence to be around."
Besides Mitcham, London Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben will also be attempting to make up for lost time on the Gold Coast.
The 19-year-old is slowly returning to a full diving program after recovering from a shoulder operation that sabotaged her 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 world titles hopes.
The Gold Coast round is a timely yardstick before the Rio team is finalised after April's national championships.
Meanwhile, Australian team officials are confident London Olympian Anabelle Smith will be fit to compete on the Gold Coast.
She was a late withdrawal from last weekend's Kuala Lumpur round due to a rib complaint.
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