Bronze medallist plans bold future

Press, 4 October 1982, Page 25

Bronze medallist plans bold future

From

KEVIN TUTTY

in Brisbane

Sitting gazing thoughtfully at the bronze medal he had fought so hard to earn on Saturday evening. Mark Graham analysed his performance and outlined his bold plans for his future in spring board diving. Graham at one stage led the three-metre springboard at the Chandler pool, and at the end of the first round of five dives on Saturday afternoon was second ahead of the Australian. Stephen Foley. Chris Snode, of England. already had a clutch on the gold medal — his consistency and grace was that much better than the rest of the field. In his final six dives on Saturday evening Graham had three mediocre ones and that was sufficient to drop him to third with little chance of overhauling Foley. Graham-said later it would have been a bonus to win the silver medal. He had expected Snode and Foley to finish first and second, and he knew the Canadian. David Snively, would.be a challenger for the bronze that he coveted. '

It was only the third diving medal won by New-Zea-land at Commonwealth Games. The previous two were bronze, and won by : Jack Stewart, also in the springboard dive, in Vancouver in 1954 and Auckland in 1950. ' ■ .1. . •: After he had dived so well in the preliminary rounds in

the afternoon, Graham was disappointed not to have maintained his place in the evening session. One of the problems was the late, hour of the diving. It did not start until 10 p.m. and it was 11.27 before the final dive was completed. "I felt tired." said Graham, and with a touch of sarcasm added: “You don't always get the opportunity to dive at this time of the night, b,ut diving the poor relation." “This is consolation for all the setbacks I and diving in New Zealand have had. Maybe new people will take notice of diving and realise we are not far below the best in the world, and that we are catching up fast. We have some talented young divers at home.”

Only 21, Graham is virtually a games up on Snode and. Foley who -are both, 24. In the next two years he intends to work on building his strength and fitness and by the Los Angeles Olympics intends to finish ahead of the two divers who.beat him on Saturday evening.

Graham still smarts at the decision to withdraw the New. Zealand team from the Moscow. Olympics in 1980. He feels that had he been able to dive there against most of

the best in the world, he would have been at a more advanced stage now, and ‘might have won that silver medal on Saturday evening. In January Graham leaves to attend university in Calgary, Canada. There he will receive more intensive training and will dive against strong competition. Whether he continues to dive for New Zealand depends on finance, said Graham. He has just used his New Zealand Sports Foundation grant, but his performance here should ensure he receives another — and an increased amount.

“But I have to consider my future, and if the assistance is offered and the criteria is to dive for another country, then probably I would,” hp said.

Graham is aiming for the top in his career. He wants to be as accomplished as the American, Greg Louganis, who flabbergasted everyone with his spectacular score of 752 points at the world championships in Ecuador six weeks ago. Louganis won the competition by 90 points and was the first diver in competition to break 700 points.

“I think I have the talent to get near him. So near that I will be, breathing down his neck, but it will take me a couple of years." said a confident Graham. ■ f - *