Cassiel Rousseau's happy-go-lucky Paris campaign has almost netted him a medal, the Australian pipped for bronze in a 10m platform final with its share of twists and turns.
The 23-year-old from Brisbane, a world champion in the event last year, hadn't rated himself a medal chance even after finding his groove to qualify fourth for the Saturday final in Paris.
So overall fourth place was a pleasant surprise for the former child circus performer, even if his only blip - on a back, three-and-a-half somersaulting pike - denied him a spot on the podium.
That 61.20 was the anomaly in a six-dive total of 481 points, the Australian shaded by fast-finishing Brit Noah Williams (497.35) and Japanese mate Rikuto Tamai (507.65), who may have had his own regrets after one slip-up cost him any chance of challenging Cao Yuan (
547.50 |
Apart from a 76.80, all of Rousseau's other dives scored upward of 81 and his final 92.50-point effort was an emphatic sign-off from his second Games.
Cao's successful defence made it an unprecedented clean sweep of the eight diving golds on offer for China.
But his compatriot and reigning world champion Yang Hao (390.20) was uncharacteristically off the pace, finishing last in the 12-man final.
Mexican and Canadian divers also missed their moments in a fluctuating medal race that had Rousseau move from third, down to fifth then back to fourth.
"Would have been a good one to watch," said Rousseau, whose grandfather Michel won track cycling gold for France at Melbourne's 1956 Olympics.
"It's diving; anything can happen in terms of pressure and the Olympics is the biggest comp.
"It's going to be a tough pill to swallow (finishing fourth) ... but this year hasn't been my best in terms of diving, so to come out and do my best here, incredibly happy."
Rousseau's short-term plans are clear and the former gymnast says he'll continue to dive as long as he's enjoying it.
"Definitely a holiday, get my mind off diving, it's been a very long three years," he said of what's next.
"I'm just here to have fun.
"If I'm not, that's where I'll leave the sport. But at the moment it is (fun)."
He tipped his cap to China's eight-gold feat but said trying to end that dominance wasn't something that inspired him to greater heights.
"Props to them; such an incredible feat to win them all ... but I couldn't care less if I'm beating them or Joe Blow down the block."
You guessed it.
"I'm just in it to kind of have fun and I did that, so ... happy."
Earlier, Adelaide 18-year-old Jaxon Bowshire (379.40) was on track for a remarkable finals appearance, snug inside the top 10 until battling with his final two efforts to finish 16th in the semi-final.
