ID :
16347
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 18:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16347
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SHY BRYAN HAS TO BE CONSISTENT TO ADVANCE By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Consistency will hold the key to diver Bryan Nickson Lomas's hopes of making the semifinals of the Olympics 10m platform even after coming so close in Athens four years ago.
"The degree of difficulty of my routine is still the same, so I have to bemore consistent," said Bryan whose event falls on Friday.
Standing just 1.54m tall and tipping the scale at only 47kg, the 18-year-old Sarawak diver has packed quite a record leading up to his secondOlympics.
Four years ago, he was the centre of attraction as the youngest athlete in Athens, he finished 19th to miss the semifinals by a rung. In 2005, he was the first Malaysian to qualify for a final in the history of the world championshipsin Montreal.
Last year, Bryan was ranked seventh in the World Diving Championships and achieved the same at this year's FINA world aquatics meet, both held inMelbourne. In Southeast Asia, he was unbeatable in the SEA Games.
Despite this, the shy student is not hyping about his chances here.
"After taking part in one Olympics already, I am a bit more experienced and a bit more confident. I would rate my chances as hopeful of making the semifinals," said the diver whose father named him after former ManchesterUnited footballer, Bryan Robson.
A total of 30 divers have entered the fray. The names include China's Lin Yue who has already one gold from the 10m synchronised event and Gleb Galperinof Russia who has a bronze, also from the synchronised discipline.
Meanwhile, the 'baby' of the Malaysian contingent, Pandelela Rinong, who will hit the water in her Games debut on Wednesday, is admittedly ontenterhooks.
"I'm nervous and a little jittery during the training inside the Water Cube with divers from the other countries. But I'm only here to gain experience, I'm not pressuring myself," said the 15-year-old schoolgirl from East Malaysia ofSarawak.
Malaysia's two other divers, Leong Mun Yee and Elizabeth Jimie, failed toadvance into the semifinals after sharing 21st spot in the 3m springboard.
"The degree of difficulty of my routine is still the same, so I have to bemore consistent," said Bryan whose event falls on Friday.
Standing just 1.54m tall and tipping the scale at only 47kg, the 18-year-old Sarawak diver has packed quite a record leading up to his secondOlympics.
Four years ago, he was the centre of attraction as the youngest athlete in Athens, he finished 19th to miss the semifinals by a rung. In 2005, he was the first Malaysian to qualify for a final in the history of the world championshipsin Montreal.
Last year, Bryan was ranked seventh in the World Diving Championships and achieved the same at this year's FINA world aquatics meet, both held inMelbourne. In Southeast Asia, he was unbeatable in the SEA Games.
Despite this, the shy student is not hyping about his chances here.
"After taking part in one Olympics already, I am a bit more experienced and a bit more confident. I would rate my chances as hopeful of making the semifinals," said the diver whose father named him after former ManchesterUnited footballer, Bryan Robson.
A total of 30 divers have entered the fray. The names include China's Lin Yue who has already one gold from the 10m synchronised event and Gleb Galperinof Russia who has a bronze, also from the synchronised discipline.
Meanwhile, the 'baby' of the Malaysian contingent, Pandelela Rinong, who will hit the water in her Games debut on Wednesday, is admittedly ontenterhooks.
"I'm nervous and a little jittery during the training inside the Water Cube with divers from the other countries. But I'm only here to gain experience, I'm not pressuring myself," said the 15-year-old schoolgirl from East Malaysia ofSarawak.
Malaysia's two other divers, Leong Mun Yee and Elizabeth Jimie, failed toadvance into the semifinals after sharing 21st spot in the 3m springboard.
