Corey Pace has set his standards, and the bar, high. The Toolern Vale teenager and eight others will represent Australia in the junior B division when they head to Europe next month for the Amsterdam Diving Cup.
And Corey hopes to come back with gold.
His diving journey started only four years ago when he began training at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Albert Park.
After a 12-month break, the 15-year-old has made a splash in his comeback, having been crowned as one of Diving Australia’s junior B boys champions for 2015-16.
“[The hardest part] is there’s lots of training involved … and it’s quite a long drive to the centre every day,” Corey says. “But I like the end result.
“To represent Australia is the main idea for me.”
And after Amsterdam?
“The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are the main aim. And, hopefully, I’ll have my name out there as well.”
The Amsterdam Diving Cup will be Corey’s first international competition. He wants that gold for Australia but needs sponsors, and about $7500, for airfares and accommodation.
His mum, Deborah, hopes Melton people will rally behind Corey.
“When anyone, in any sport, gets chosen to represent their country it’s a big deal,” she says.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help.
