Grant Nel Explained

Grant Roy Nel
Fullname:Grant Roy Nel
Country:Australia
National Team:Australia
Birth Date:1988 4, df = yes
Birth Place:Johannesburg, South Africa
Height:1.74m (05.71feet)
Event:Diving
Club:Victoria
Collegeteam:Texas A&M
Partner:Brooke Lonie

Grant Roy Nel (born 7 April 1988) is an Australian diver. Nel won three medals for Australia at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, and represented Australia in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Early life and college career

Nel was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 7 April 1988.[1] His mother, Avril, represented South Africa in gymnastics.[2] Nel was a gymnast as a child until he broke both of his hands, where he switched sports to diving.[3] Nel would move to Australia in 2001. Nel first competed in the World Diving Championships in 2007, which he would compete in five times consecutively until 2015. Nel attended Yarra Valley Grammar in Ringwood, Victoria and attended Texas A&M University. At Texas A&M, Nel would set school records in three separate dives, including the three-metre springboard at 476.48. He would additionally receive NCAA All-American honors and Team MVP.[4]

Professional career

2010 Commonwealth Games

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Nel competed in five diving events, winning bronze in the 3 m springboard with a score of 456.55.[5]

2014 Commonwealth Games

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Nel failed to qualify for the individual 3 m springboard final after he scored zero points after slipping during a dive and landing on his back.[6] [7] The day after, Nel would later win silver in the syncronised 3 m springboard with Matthew Mitcham. Nel would additionally win bronze in the 1 m springboard by scoring 303.40 points.[8]

2016 Summer Olympics

Nel represented Australia at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Nel had previously failed to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics after receiving shoulder surgery.[9] [10] Nel competed in the men's 3 metre springboard, where he finished 16th in the preliminary round with 395.05 points, advancing the semi-finals. In the semi-final, Nel scored 368.35 points and placed 15th overall, failing to advance to the finals. The previous year, Nel was set back by a back joint injury that left him bedridden for six weeks.[11]

Nel announced his retirement from diving on 17 August 2017.[12]

Personal life

Nel married in 2016 and holds a degree in agricultural engineering.[13]

References

  1. Web site: 2020-06-19 . Grant Nel Results Commonwealth Games Australia . 2024-07-26 . commonwealthgames.com.au . en-AU.
  2. Web site: Grant Nel - Men's Swimming and Diving . 2024-07-26 . Texas A&M Athletics - 12thMan.com . en.
  3. Web site: Grant Nel . 2024-07-26 . Australian Olympic Committee . en-AU.
  4. Web site: Nel, Dalton Share MVP Award . 2024-07-26 . Texas A&M Athletics - 12thMan.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2020-06-19 . Grant Nel Results Commonwealth Games Australia . 2024-07-26 . commonwealthgames.com.au . en-AU.
  6. News: Australian diver lands flat on back . 2024-07-26 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Nel delighted to win silver - Sports Mole . 2024-07-26 . amp.sportsmole.co.uk.
  8. Web site: 2020-06-19 . Grant Nel Results Commonwealth Games Australia . 2024-07-26 . commonwealthgames.com.au . en-AU.
  9. Web site: Australia . Diving . Countdown to #Glasgow2014 - Grant Nel . 2024-07-26 . www.diving.org.au . en.
  10. Web site: Former Texas A&M All-America diver Grant Nel named to Australia Olympic Team . 2024-07-26 . Texas A&M Athletics - 12thMan.com . en.
  11. Web site: 2016-08-16 . Nel misses final, wins admirers at Rio . 2024-07-26 . Nine . en.
  12. Web site: Australia . Diving . Grant Nel Announces Retirement . 2024-07-26 . www.diving.org.au . en.
  13. Web site: Victoria . Diving . Nel back on home soil . 2024-07-26 . www.divingvictoria.com.au . en.