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Mitcham does retirement backflip

08/12/2012 01:56:32 PM

Australian diver Matthew Mitcham has deferred his retirement plans and set his sights on a berth at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Mitcham's dream of defending his Olympic title was dashed after he failed to reach the final of the men's 10m platform at the London Games.

But the Beijing 2008 gold medallist said he will be in Rio 'no matter what' and has raised the possibility of switching to the 3m springboard discipline.

"Before coming to London, I'd pretty much decided that this was going to be my last Olympics," Mitcham said.

"I was going to retire, just because of all the injuries and everything. But once I got here, all bets were off.

"The Olympics is just the most amazing experience and I never want to miss another one again.

"In no matter what capacity - whether it's a diver, maybe just a springboard diver, or whether it's media or anything, I'm definitely going to be in Rio, no matter what.

"I have been in discussion with Chava (Sobrino) my coach about the possibility of becoming solely a springboard diver.

"I'm not really going to take a holiday when I get home - I'm actually going to start working on the strength required to be a springboard diver straight away."

Mitcham said he was unsure if he would walk away from the physically demanding 10m altogether.

"I need to give my body a rest, because I haven't done that in the last couple of years, and that probably has been my mistake," he added.

"Who knows? I may not want to let all that platform talent go to waste. I might be a synchro partner for James (Connor) at Rio.''

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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