I'm 16.
I'm breathing deeply.
I'm on the top diving board.
And I'm facing the wrong way.
I've been learning springboard diving for knocking on two years now, and it's been a soaring success.
I can do amazing jumps, tucks, twists and spins.
I can leap like a gazelle and land like a fish.
But all forwards.
I can't do backwards dives- they're scary.
Really scary.
My coach is patient. Explains to me I can do it- it's all about confidence.
I build up to it, off the side, the 1m, 3m, now comes the big one:
A 5 metre tucked dive, BACKWARDS.
CRAAAAAAAAP
I can do it. Confidence. Believe.
I believe.
I go for it.
Leap into the air. I'm doing it. I am going for it.
Splat.
Under-rotated. Sore back.
Few days in bed.
Life lesson?
Confidence is amazing, but not enough.
