Standout performers: Coach and diver Mercedes Carnevali and diver Sam Tulk were part of Diving WA’s winning team.
Camera IconStandout performers: Coach and diver Mercedes Carnevali and diver Sam Tulk were part of Diving WA’s winning team. Credit: Supplied/Will Russell        www.communitypix.com.au d453164

Diving WA’s Mercedes Carnevali and Sam Tulk dive into winner’s circle

Caitlin TillerEastern Reporter

THIRTEEN athletes from Diving WA recently made a splash at the 2016 Australian Age Diving Championships in Sydney.

The club, based at Beatty Park Leisure Centre and the WA Athletics Centre, came home with 16 medals, the Age Club of the Year and the Junior Coach of the Year awards.

Diving WA chief executive Steven Rose said it had been a few years since WA had won the award, which caters for divers as young as 11 up to the over 50s category.

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“WA diving had been through major transitions last year with governance and structural reforms,” Rose said.

“It’s certainly been a very successful championship for us, leading to bigger and better things in WA.

“Diving in WA has come a long way and now we’re starting to see results with kids involved taking it to next level.”

Divers competed individually and in synchronised dives from 1 and 3m springboards.

Rose said junior diver Sam Tulk (12), coach and diver Mercedes Carnevali (19) and diver Eliza Cole (29) were the standouts.

Mt Claremont resident and UWA student Carnevali said she had prioritised coaching this year.

“It’s a really big honour; I’ve competed in it before but I’ve never had people I’ve coached enter the championships,” Carnevali said.

“I coach almost every day; because of that it’s hard for me to train so I put coaching first over training. It’s the atmosphere and the people who you do it with that makes it fun. I wouldn’t have received the award if it wasn’t for the kids I coach and all their hard work.”

Carnevali has been accepted to work in a gymnastics coaching summer camp in New York this June.

As well as contributing two gold and two silver medals to the clubs’ 16-strong haul, West Leederville resident Sam came away with Boys Diver of the Year.