MATHEW HELM (retired)

Individual Australian Titles - 5
4 - 10m platform (99, 02-04); 1 - 3m springboard (02)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Has won a silver and a bronze medal from two Olympics....claimed silver in 10m at Athens Olympic Games....has won a gold, a silver and a bronze from two FINA World Championships....has won two gold from two Commonwealth Games....retired after 2006 Comm. Games...1^st 10m platform, 120m synchro (Newbery) 2008 Olympic Trials, Hobart to make his third Olympic team...revealed he had to overcome vertigo in his comeback to the sport.

IN 2008 Finished 4^th 10m synchro (Newbery) FINA Grand Prix in Rostock, Germany (June).... Won gold 10m synch (Newbery) and silver 10m platform FINA Grand Prix Fort Lauderdale, Came 3^rd 10m platform  and came 3^rd 10m synch (Newbery) FINA Grand Prix Montreal Canada...... Finished fifth 10m synchro (Newbery) FINA World Cup, Beijing (Feb)....Won gold 10m synchro (Newbery) at the Australian Open Diving Championships in Adelaide...1^st 10m platform, 120m synchro (Newbery) 2008 Olympic Trials, Hobart

IN 2006 Won 10m and 10m synchro (Newbery) at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne....won 10m synchro (Newbery) and was second in 10m at Australian Open Championships in Melbourne....was third in 10m and 10m synchro (Newbery) at FINA Grand Prix in Sydney

IN 2005 Won 10m synchro (Newbery) and was second in 10m at Australian Open Championships on the Gold Coast

IN 2004 Won silver in 10m and bronze in 10m synchro (Newbery) at Olympic Games in Athens....won 10m synchro (Newbery) at FINA Super Final in Mexico City....won 10m and 10m synchro (Newbery) at Australian Open Championships in Hobart

PREVIOUS YEARS

2003....won 10m synchro (Newbery) and was second in 10m at FINA World Championships in Barcelona....added four gold, four silver and one bronze at FINA Grand Prix series....2002....placed fifth in 10m and seventh in 3m at Commonwealth Games in Manchester....2001....was third in 10m and fourth in 10m synchro (Newbery) at FINA World Championships in Fukuoka....was second in 10m synchro (Newbery) and sixth in 10m at Goodwill Games in Brisbane....2000....was fifth in 10m synchro (Newbery) and eighth in 10m at Olympic Games in Sydney

OUT OF THE POOL

FAMILY MEMBERS: Glen Helm (dad), Lynn Hughes (mum), Natalie Helm (older sister), Kristy and Luke Simmonds (younger sister and brother), Tori and Jasmine Ruben (younger sisters), Gemma and Christopher Helm (younger sister and brother).

WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU: The desire for technical perfection in diving is what inspires me. Also, to take home an Olympic gold medal has been my dream since the age of 6.

ROLE MODELS: My Father, Jodie Kent (mentor)

PERSONAL

STUDIES/OCCUPATION:  Personal Trainer, Diving coach

SPORTS BEFORE DIVING/AUSTRALIAN TEAMS/MAJOR RESULTS: Gymnastics 1986-1992, Diving 1992-current

INTERESTING FACTS PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU: I play the guitar, sing and write my own songs, and love dancing.

SUPERSTITIONS: Don't have any.

ULTIMATE RELAXATION: Lying on a beach, or driving through the country.

SPECIALTY IN THE KITCHEN: Lemon chicken from scratch

ONE THING YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: My Family

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AWAY FROM DIVING: Play with my puppy, hang out with friends, sing and write songs, play on MySpace

FAVOURITE:         

SPORTING TEAM: Newcastle Knights

MOVIES: Top Gun, Monster in Law, and anything with Planes, Julia Roberts or Keira Knightly in it.

TV SHOW: Supernatural, Australian Idol, Rove, House.

BANDS/MUSIC: Snow Patrol, The Frey, Garth Brooks, Ricky Lee, Dance music

FOOD: Kebab, Chicken sambo's, and anything that is easy and non-fatty

DRINK: Lemonade, Coke Zero, Water (in that order)

DIVING MEET: 2004 Olympics

HOBBIES: Writing songs

PETS: Ty ( male staffy born 28^th August)

BEST MATES: Ben O'Brien, Michael Kaczmar, Darren Fewins, Megan Fallon, (not in any particular order)

LAST BOOK READ: 7 habits of highly effective people

WHAT'S YOUR GREATEST ASSET? I am a perfectionist

FAMILY MEMBERS: My sister Natalie

HAVE ANY OF YOUR FAMILY REPRESENTED AUSTRALIA OR PLAYED SPORT AT A NATIONAL LEVEL? My dad use to be a good diver back in the day.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS? Perfectionist, impatient, worried.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? As the most beautiful diver in the world, and generally a nice person.

DIVING SHORT TERM GOALS: Make my training session this afternoon : )

DIVING CAREER ULTIMATE GOAL: Gold Medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

PERSONAL AMBITIONS: Find my sole mate       

HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OBSTACLES DURING YOUR DIVING CAREER? Is this a trick question? In 1999 I had stress fractures in my back, and have pretty much been in pain with it since then, In 2003 I competed with a broken thumb and became world champion, in 2004 I re-broke my thumb before the Olympics, I am currently nursing a fractured ankle that I have broken twice in the past 12 weeks and hoping to make to Olympic team. These are just my injuries, I won't even get started on my head.

WHAT AGE DID YOU START DIVING AND WHY? I was 12, and I started because I was told I would never be a great Gymnast due to a broken arm which has left a 30 degree hyperextension in it.

 FAVOURITE DIVER AND WHY? Hui Jai, because he is the only other diving perfectionist I know

FAVOURITE ATHLETE AND WHY? Hui Jai, see above

NOTABLE QUOTE: Follow your dreams, seek perfection, and never give up - Mathew Helm