Paris Olympics 2024: Australian diving veteran Melissa Wu discusses her shift in mindset before her record-breaking Games appearance

Despite dealing with a troublesome knee and requiring two cortisone injections for her neck, Melissa Wu focused on her mental strength to make Australian diving history. The 32-year-old is set to become the first Australian diver to compete in five Olympics. Last month, Wu earned her spot by winning the 10m platform at the national championships.

Her injuries had prevented her from practicing her competition dives just four weeks before the nationals. “As time goes on, it gets harder and harder — not just because I’ve had a lot of injuries, but because diving is such a gruelling sport,” she said. “The older I get, the more I appreciate it. This preparation has been a lot harder, not just physically, but also in trusting myself.”

“I had to put in a lot of effort to change my mindset. I began practicing visualization, which I had always found challenging.

“I knew I had to dig deep and do something different to make this team.”

Due to Wu’s injuries, her training program has been significantly adjusted, with a greater emphasis on nutrition and psychology.

ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27.

“To get through the trials, I had to rely heavily on my mindset work, focusing on it as much as possible,” she said.

“I had to create a strict plan for how to approach my training and when to attempt certain dives.

“I was nervous, but I knew I wanted to be on this team — it means a lot to me.”

Wu wistfully observes what younger divers are doing in their training, but she knows what works best for her now.

After repeatedly hitting the water at 60km/h from a 10m height, her body requires a different approach to preparation.

“I can’t train like the young guns anymore. Now it’s about being smart and ensuring that everything I do in training prepares me for the 10m platform in Paris,” she said.

“I’ve had to learn that more is not always better, and the way we’ve always done things may not be right for me at this moment.

“I see the younger athletes training and I want to do exactly what they’re doing, and do it better.

“But now it’s about trusting myself and knowing that what I’m doing is enough.”

The women’s 10m platform event begins on Tuesday, August 6, at 11pm (AEST). ABC Sport will be live blogging all the action overnight throughout the Paris Olympics.