Bryan Wants To Compete In Three Events

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Bryan Nickson Lomas will achieve what most athletes can only dream of doing – compete in two events at an Olympic Games.

But he is still not satisfied and yearns to earn a third spot at the London Games next year even if it means having to defer his university studies to realise his goal.

Bryan is hoping to qualify for the Olympics men’s 3m springboard synchro with partner Yeoh Ken Nee at the Diving World Cup in London next February.

The 21-year-old Sarawakian made the cut for the Olympics first in the 3m springboard individual at the World Championships in Shanghai in July.

He then went on to qualify for the 10m platform individual at the Asia Diving Cup in Kuala Lumpur in September.

He is the only one, amongst the handful of Malaysian athletes who have qualified for the Olympics, who will see action in two disciplines but Bryan wants more.

“This is the first time I will be competing in two events at the Olympics.

“But it would be even better if I can qualify for the men’s springboard synchro as well,” said Bryan.

“That’s my target next year with Ken Nee. In fact, I will have to defer two semesters of my course because of the preparations leading up to the Olympics.

”I not only have to double up my efforts for the individual disciplines but also focus on the synchro.

“Only eight pairs get to compete at the Olympics and we hope to pull it off at the World Cup.

”Three pairs have already qualified from the World Championships and the remaining spots will be decided at the World Cup.

“Malaysia have never qualified for the synchro before this but we have a realistic chance judging from our performances at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games last year,” said Bryan, who will be making his third Olympic appearance.

He partnered Ken Nee to a silver in the discipline at the Asian Games in Guangzhou and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Bryan was one of the recipients of the OCM Athletes of the Games Award yesterday for his double golden splash at the Indonesia SEA Games last month.

He defended his 10m platform individual title and partnered Ken Nee to a second gold in the men’s 3m springboard synchro.