Diver Matty Lee was pleased to end his Commonwealth Games on a high after battling back from a poor start to clinch bronze in the men’s 10m platform in Birmingham. 

Lee scored just 56.10 on his second dive and looked in danger of missing out on a medal, before recovering to post a huge 99.90 on his final dive to ensure he would be on the podium. 

The Leeds athlete, who won gold in the synchronised 10m platform with Noah Williams, has only recently returned to solo diving and was pleased with his efforts to come in behind Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau and Canada’s Rylan Wiens. 

“I’m really happy with a bronze medal,” reflected Lee, who also won 10m synchro gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  

“I could’ve done better today, a lot of us could have done a lot better, but at one point – my second dive wasn’t very good at all – I thought I was out of it. 

“Diving is unpredictable, people will mess up all around, and you must be ready for that. 

“I just brought myself up, just thought ‘do some good dives’ and I managed to do that.  

“Not the best dives I’ve done but I’m genuinely really happy.” 

Lee clawed himself back onto the podium amidst a crowded field, with five or six divers in contention for medals, only for no-one to take the competition by the scruff of the neck. 

Compatriot Noah Williams, who partnered looked good for a podium after his first two dives both scored over 80, but he struggled to keep up and fell away to finish seventh. 

It was better fortunes for Lee, however, who took confidence from an outstanding final dive that showed what the 24-year-old can do at his best. 

“If I did a really good list all the way through and ended on a rubbish dive, I’d be fuming,” added Lee. “It’s just a psychological thing – whatever you end on, you always remember the most. 

“I’m happy I’ve ended my whole Commonwealths in Birmingham on a 99 front 4 ½ somersault.” 

Both Lee and Williams were roared on by the boisterous home crowd at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, with both men receiving huge cheers each time their name was called.

For Lee, who won gold in Tokyo in front of no crowd, it is something he is still getting used to. 

“That is something I’ve never experienced before,” he admitted. “It was insane.  

The amount of support for Team England athletes, and for everyone else, I love that. 

“Sport is all about showing off the best. When Cas [Rousseau] did that last dive, everyone got behind him and that was nice. 

“It can make you feel a bit more nervous, but it’s just about getting used to doing it back in front of a crowd.” 

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