KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian diver Bryan Nickson Lomas (pic) stole the show at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games when he was the youngest, smallest and lightest athlete.
This time, a more experienced Bryan wants to be recognised more for his breakthrough performances than anything else in his second Olympics in Beijing next month.
The 18-year-old former world junior champion wants to be the first Malaysian to make it to the 18-man semi-finals of the 10m platform event.
The Sarawakian said that the exposure he gained in Athens had made him more confident to make such predictions.
“It may have been four years ago but I have fond memories of the Athens Games,” said Bryan, who was given the honour as the country’s flag-bearer then.
“I was quite shy and nervous but yet so proud to represent the country in the Olympics.”
He was only 14 years old then and came within a whisker of making the semi-finals in the 10m platform. He finished in 19th spot.
After the Athens experience, he went on to become the first Malaysian junior to win the 3m springboard event of the World Junior Championships in Belem, Brazil.
He then grew from strength to strength, proving to be the country’s darling in diving.
He became the first Malaysian to qualify for Beijing with a good performance in the World Aquatic Championships in Melbourne last year.
“I went to Athens on a wildcard entry. This time, I have qualified for the Olympics on merit. I have trained very hard and my target is to make the semi-finals. It will be tough but I think I can pull it off,” he said.
Bryan said that his numerous trips to China, as part of his training for the Olympics, had also helped to hone his skills as a diver.
The pint-sized Bryan is the only Malaysian male diver for the Games.
The other three are women divers Pandelela Rinong (10m platform), Elizabeth Jimie (3m springboard) and Leong Mun Yee (3m springboard)
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