Helm Eyes Comeback Plunge At Gold Finale

Newcastle Herald

Saturday January 20, 2007

By RENEE VALENTINE

COMMONWEALTH Games hero and Olympic silver medallist Mat Helm is toying with the idea of a comeback.

Newcastle-bred Helm, who is now based in Brisbane, retired from diving in the wake of his Commonwealth Games success last year but is considering having one last crack for gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The 26-year-old will use the next three months to make his decision and is in the process of having his name put back on the ASADA [Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority] register, just in case.

"I have been thinking about it, but that's all it is at the moment, just in the thinking phase," Helm said.

"I went on to China after the Commonwealth Games and had a pretty bad competition about a week and a half later.

"My expectations were quite high after the Commonwealth Games, but then I also had issues with my take-off and motivation, so there was a lot behind the decision to retire.

"I had been thinking about it over the past year. It was disappointing to finish the way I did. I really wanted to go out on a high.

"I did want to go onto Beijing, but then I had that competition in China, which was really disappointing, and it was sad to go out that way.

"I had always kept it in the back of my mind that if I ever wanted to come back that I would."

Helm produced arguably the best performance of his career to clinch his only individual Commonwealth Games gold medal in Melbourne in March, winning the men's 10-metre platform.

The effort came a day after he combined with Robert Newbery for gold in the men's synchronised 10m platform.

But a month later he was retired, and he has been enjoying working as a personal trainer in Brisbane since.

If Helm returns it will be to take care of unfinished business after his sensational performance at the 2004 Athens Games, where he was one spot off winning gold in the men's 10m platform.

Helm was back on the platform and diving with the Australian Youth squad during the week as their ambassador at the Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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