OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Diving duo equal best-ever British finish

By Sean-Paul Doran, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain’s Chris Mears is on cloud nine after equalling the best-ever British performance in the London 2012 three metre springboard final – just three years after being on the brink of death.

BACK FROM BRINK: Chris Mears and Nick Robinson-Baker equal best-ever British finish

Mears and diving partner Nick Robinson-Baker were not expected to trouble the medal positions at the Olympic Aquatics Centre but finished fifth to match Mark Shipman and Tony Ali’s result from Athens 2004.

And 19-year-old Mears is aware that his fate could have taken a different turn after a ruptured spleen at the Australian Youth Olympics in 2009 saw doctors give him a slim chance of survival.

He said: “It definitely means a lot to me to go from what I came from in 2009 to now competing in the Olympic Games and coming fifth in the world, it's an amazing feeling.

“That was pretty much rock-bottom, but this is where I am now, and I'm so happy.

“My parents are up there, they're crying, and I know it means a lot to them.”

Team GB posted an overall score of 432.60 as China’s Qin Kai and Luo Yutong took the win with 477.00 to reinforce their impressive gold rush in the London 2012 diving competitions.

A score of 87.78 in their final dive consolidated the Brits’ historic position behind Russia, USA, Ukraine and the Chinese and Mears is now taking the positives into the individual springboard final.

“It makes us so happy that we're one of the most successful teams in the men’s springboard, that's another thing to add to our excitement,” he added.

Mears’ partner Robinson-Baker, who finished seventh in Beijing with Ben Swain, revealed he will take a well-earned break before the pair start planning for Rio 2016.

And the 25-year-old World Series gold medallist was full of praise for his competitors in a strong field as his London 2012 campaign ended on a high.

He said: “That's what sportsmanship is all about, going in there, competing, and whatever happens on the day, the best man wins and the best team wins, so congratulations to everyone else.

“It isn't our personal best, I think we've gone 436, but 432 in a final at the Olympic Games was a phenomenal event for us, we're buzzing. I want to go up and do it again now.”

© Sportsbeat 2012