Sukma XXI: Elvis shares secret recipe as he eyes more gold

KUCHING (Aug 20): Family support and a good sleep proved to be the winning combination for Sarawak diver Elvis Priestly Clement who clinched the men’s 3m springboard gold – the first offered in aquatics – in the 2024 Sukma.

The 18-year-old, competing in front of his family members for the first time, romped to victory with 415.15 points after six dives at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre here yesterday.

His national team training mates, Rui Jie Yong (388.80 points) and Nurqayyum Nazmi (377.65 points) of the Federal Territories, had to settle for silver and bronze respectively.

Elvis said his normal routine before competition was to have a peaceful sleep so that he would be focused and calm on competition day.

“I am happy to have outdone my friends because we often train together. I was all pumped up with the presence of my family members because they rarely come to watch me in action.

“My main target this year will be to get on the podium in the World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from Nov 24-Dec 1. My ultimate goal, though, is to be successful at the Olympics,” said the Kuching-born.

At this Sukma he is looking forward to add to his collection of gold medals when he competes in the 10m platform synchronised with Enrique Maccartney Harold today and the platform individual on Thursday (Aug 22) after returning from the previous KL Sukma with a gold, a silver and a bronze.

Meanwhile, Sarawak made a clean sweep of the two gold medals on offer on the opening day when Nur Eilisha Rania Muhammad Abrar Raj and Nurul Farisya Alia Affendi blew their away the competition in the women’s 10m platform synchronised.

They scored 262.08 points for a dominant win over Terengganu’s Ilyssa Ixora Imran-Uzlifatil Jannah Ashraf (197.10) and Perak’s Cecelia Olivia Christopher-Siti Nurul Jannah (189.75 points) who settled for silver and bronze respectively. – Bernama