It’s mind over matter for Australia’s diving champion Maddison Keeney

SINGAPORE – A fear of heights is a common phenomenon, with some studies published in the Journal of Neurology saying that roughly one in four people have it.

What is far less common, however, is twisting and somersaulting in mid-air before plunging into a pool of water while carrying that fear. Yet Australian diver Maddison Keeney somehow manages to do just that.

In an interview with The Straits Times, the 29-year-old said: “When I was a kid, I didn’t really do platform (dives). I didn’t like going in planes (either). I don’t like standing backwards on the five-metre (platform) so anything higher than that, I’m like ‘no thanks’.”

She compromised by becoming exclusively a springboard diver at more comfortable heights of one and three metres.

Naturally a sporty kid from a young age, taking part in athletics, basketball and field hockey in school, her mother enrolled her in an after-school beginner diving programme after discovering her affinity for the water.

She said: “We had a pool at home and a pool ring. I liked jumping into the ring, so she thought that (diving) would be a good idea.”

It turned out to be a lot more than that. Keeney is one of Australia’s most decorated divers and her latest silver medal in the mixed 3m synchronised at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore on July 30 adds to her already outstanding medal tally.

She won 11 medals (four gold, three silver, four bronze) in 2019, her “best season ever”.

But in a cruel twist of fate, her tireless training took a toll on her body, ultimately resulting in agonising injuries. Her left knee suffered cartilage damage while her left shoulder had internal impingement and she required surgery in both places, forcing her out of the pool from September 2020 to January 2021.

“My shoulder was sore for a long time (after the surgery). I remember I did a forward entry on (the) three metre. It was scary putting my arm up again because I wasn’t sure if something was going to go wrong,” said Keeney, who failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

She added: “It felt like the end of the world because you tie so much of your self-worth to diving and your results and when you can’t dive, everything just feels awful. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to be able to get to that level again.”

Having to watch her compatriots on TV was disappointing, but at the same time, she was relieved to have a break.

Striking double gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – her second major competition since injury – was just the start of her comeback arc, ultimately culminating in a silver medal in the women’s 3m springboard at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“Everything was all worth it,” recalled Keeney, who won the women’s 1m springboard title at the 2025 WCH on July 26 and will be eyeing her third medal in Singapore when she competes in the 3m springboard on Aug 2.

“It was a testament to my character, kind of how far I’ve gone because it had been eight years since Rio (2016 Olympics). I’m always afraid that as I get older, I’m not going to get any better.”

But with age comes experience and the Perth native has since turned big sister following the retirement of her synchro partners Anabelle Smith (women’s) and Domonic Bedggood (mixed) after the Paris Games.

“It’s weird. Now I’m the older mature one, so it’s something I need to get used to,” she said.

Cassiel Rousseau, her new mixed 3m synchronised partner, has found her to be “amazing”, adding: “Standing next to Maddison just makes me a lot more confident with my dives.”

In a sport dominated by China, Keeney has consistently shown her ability to compete with the world’s finest even when injury struggles threatened to slow her down.

“I work very hard. I want to be one of those people that pushes everyone to get better. I like to think that I’m pushing them (the Chinese) to get better as well,” said Keeney, who is friends with China’s Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani, the two divers she shared the podium with in Paris.

Another chapter in their friendly rivalry was written at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 29 when Chen and partner Chen Jia won the women’s 3m synchronised final, while Keeney and her teammate Alysha Koloi finished fourth.

Their friendship is a heartwarming reminder of the spirit and mutual respect derived from sport.

With a smile, she said: “We’re always just standing on the boards, having a laugh (with) each other. I visited them when I went to Beijing at the end of last year.

“Yiwen’s English is really good, so she bridges the gap between a lot of the Chinese athletes and us, a really good character outside of the pool as well. She’s such a hoot.”