Melissa Wu facts for kids
Wu at the 2008 Olympics
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| Full name | Melissa Paige Li Kun Wu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Woodles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 May 1992 Penrith, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Height | 1.52 metres (5 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Diving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 10 m individual platform, 10 m synchro platform, 10 m mixed synchro platform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Perfect 10 Diving Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | NSWIS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Chava Sobrino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Melissa Wu, born on May 3, 1992, is an amazing Australian diver. She has competed in five Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in 2008 and a bronze medal in 2020. Melissa has also won many medals at the Commonwealth Games, including gold in 2010, 2018, and 2022. She is a scholarship holder at the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS).
Contents
Early Life and Training
Melissa Paige Li Kun Wu was born in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. Her father has Chinese heritage.
Melissa started diving in 2003. She trains at the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) with her coach, Chava Sobrino.
Diving Career Highlights
Melissa's diving journey began in 2003. That same year, she had a small setback. She accidentally landed on a trampoline and fractured her left arm. This meant she had to stop training for six months.
After recovering, Melissa quickly became a champion. She won many junior and state titles in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, she won the individual 10-meter platform event at the Australian Open Diving Championships.
First Big Competitions
Winning the Australian Open earned Melissa a spot on the team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. There, she won a silver medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform event with her partner, Alexandra Croak. She also placed fifth in the individual 10-meter platform.
In 2008, Melissa made history at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She won a silver medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform with Briony Cole. This made her the youngest Australian ever to win an Olympic diving medal! She also reached the finals in the women's 10-meter platform, finishing sixth.
Commonwealth Games Success
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Melissa continued her winning streak. She won a gold medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform with Alexandra Croak. She also earned a silver medal in the individual 10-meter platform.
Melissa competed again at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. She won a gold medal in the individual 10-meter platform.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Melissa teamed up with Charli Petrov. Together, they won a gold medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform.
Olympic Journey
Melissa has competed in five Olympic Games.
- At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she placed fourth in the 10-meter individual platform.
- At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she finished fifth in the same event.
- Qualifying for her fourth Olympics, Melissa competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She proudly won a bronze medal in the individual 10-meter platform.
- In 2024, Melissa competed in her fifth Olympic Games in Paris. She became the first Australian diver to compete in five Olympic Games. She competed in the ten-meter platform event.
Melissa's diving club is called the Perfect 10 Diving Club.
Personal Life and Interests
Melissa Wu lives in Sydney. Her friends and family sometimes call her "Woodles."
She comes from a family of athletes! Her cousin, James Stannard, plays rugby union. Her second cousin, Jana Pittman, is a runner. Melissa's brother, Joshua, and sister, Madeline, both train in weightlifting.
Melissa is 1.52 meters tall. She has two special tattoos. One is on her right leg and shows the Olympic rings shaped like hearts. The other is on her left side and says, "only as much as I dream can I be."
See also
In Spanish: Melissa Wu para niños
