KUALA LUMPUR: Young diver Elvis Clement is determined to continue improving his mental strength after receiving simple, yet priceless advice from two-time world champion Cassiel Rousseau recently.
Elvis and partner Enrique Harold created history at the Singapore World Championships in July when they became the first-ever Malaysian pair to reach the final of the men’s 10m platform synchronised event at the world meet.
Elvis also did well to reach the men’s 10m platform individual semi-finals in Singapore.
The 18-year-old said he and Enrique had approached Rousseau for advice during the competition.
“I had always struggled with nerves and pressure during previous competitions but was able to improve my mentality during the world championships,” said Elvis today (Sept 14).
“During the world championships, Elvis and I approached Cassiel for advice as he is a world champion.
“We asked him how to control our nerves and deal with pressure and so on. He told us that the most important thing is to enjoy ourselves.
“We kept it brief as it was during meal time and we did not want to be rude but the advice he gave us meant a lot to us.
“We realised that the only thing holding us back was our mentality and this is something that cannot really be taught. This is why we approached someone (Cassiel) with experience.
“Techniques can always be learnt.”
Though the platform event is his favourite, Elvis is equally adept in the springboard discipline as he proved during the Malaysia International Age Group Diving Championships (MIAG) which concluded in Bukit Jalil today.
Elvis emerged victorious in the men’s open 3m springboard individual event on 365.70 points despite carrying a lower back muscle tear injury.
Nurqayyum Nazmi finished second on 353.85 while Yong Rui Jie settled for third (352.10).
“I injured my lower back last week and after a scan, I was told I had a muscle tear. I was given platelet-rich plasma treatment by the National Sports Institute and rested for about a week,” said Elvis.
“I am quite happy with my performances here considering I did not do any training over the past week.
“I was also able to win a silver in the 3m springboard synchronised with my partner Lutfir Rahman yesterday (Sept 13).”
Elvis said he will be focusing on the springboard discipline for the remainder of the year.
“There are no men’s platform events at the Sea Games so I will be focusing on the springboard events for the rest of this season,” said Elvis.
“It is also to give my injury a chance to heal as my training workload would increase if I have to compete in two disciplines.
“I have never competed at the Sea Games before so it will be very exciting for me.
“The platform event is, however, my favourite discipline and I hope to continue improving myself in that in the future.”
In other events at MIAG today, Enrique won the men’s open platform event on 377.20 with fellow national teammate Bertrand Rhodict Lises coming in a close second (374.75). Muhd Anilrian Normatrud Abdullah (347.65) completed the podium.
The women’s open platform event was also dominated by national divers with Lee Yiat Qing taking the win on 283.25.
Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj (265.60) and Nurul Farisha Affendi (231.25) came in second and third.
The national squad’s next major competition will be the Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad, India on Sept 28-Oct 1.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
