BUENOS AIRES 2018: Matthew Carter joins fellow diver Alysha on the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Team, and with a Commonwealth Games bronze medal already under his belt, he's expected to make waves during the competition.
Carter said he feels lucky to have been selected to participate at YOG as it will be his last chance to compete at the event.
“I was so excited when I found out I had been selected to go to the YOG. I feel very proud and privileged to be given the chance to represent my country. I will be turning 18 later this year, so this is my only opportunity to compete,” Carter said.
Even though Carter is just 17 years of age, he has collected an impressive list of accolades. Not only did he score bronze at his first Commonwealth Games appearance this year with partner, and Rio 2016 Olympian, Domonic Beddgood in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard final, he also placed sixth in his individual 3m event and 8th in his individual 1m springboard event.
It was in his individual 3m springboard event that Carter briefly held the lead, nailing his opening dive with a score of 81.60 with a forward two-and-a half somersault with two twists, showing a glimpse of what’s to come for this up and coming diver.
Carter represented Australia at the 2016 FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Russia where he brought home two bronze medals. He recreated that success at the 2018 event in Kyiv, Ukraine, winning bronze in the boys 1m and helped Australia claim bronze in the mixed team event.
It was in Kyiv that he competed the hardest list by an Australian in the history of the Junior Championships in the 3m event. Carter's list, which resulted in a 5th place finish, included a front four-and-a-half somersaults (3.8 DD) with a forward two-and-a half somersaults triple twist (3.9 DD), a dive that was attempted by no other competitor in the event.
The Adelaide local also competed in the World Diving Championships in 2017 placing fifth and 12th against senior divers who were much more experienced.
Similar to some of our other YOG athletes, including his teammate Koloi, Carter got his sporting start in gymnastics before transferring to diving as a six-year-old. It wasn’t until he was 14 that he decided he wanted to take his diving career all the way to the top.
“When I won my very first medal at an International Youth Meet in Dresden 2014, I realised that I could be competitive at an international level. This was the turning point for me. It inspired me to want to be the best in the world,” the determined Pembroke School student said.
Carter said that competing for a spot at the YOG was tough; not only did he have to place in the top 9 at the World Junior Championships for a shot at Buenos Aires, he also had to participate in events that ran over several hours.
“The most challenging part of trying for a place at the YOG was trying to remain focused in very long events. Some of my events were over four and a half hours long,” the South Australian said.
When he isn’t dominating the springboard, Carter never strays far from the water, with surfing being a hobby of his. He credits legendary Aussie surfer and three-time world surfing champion and fighter of great white sharks, Mick Fanning as his sporting inspiration.
“Mick Fanning inspires me. He’s an amazing athlete who has achieved so much despite having faced so many challenges. He never gives up. He was attacked by a shark and it still didn’t stop him doing what he loves.”
The diving competition will be held at the Youth Olympic park in Buenos Aires, with the men’s events on October 14 and 16.
You can learn more about the Australian YOG Team HERE
Liana Buratti
olympics.com.au
