Despite a debilitating back injury Sydney
Mitcham scored a string of 10s in the preliminaries and semi-finals, comprehensively blitzing his competition at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Mitcham defeated his Commonwealth Games synchro teammate Ethan Warren (456.65) and Queenslander Matthew Barnard (419.10) with a score of 492.45.
Mitcham, who struggled in the lead-up to the nationals with a back injury, said he thrived on “competition adrenaline” to nail his dives.
He was chuffed to score straight 10s from his fourth dive in the final.
“It’s the fifth time ever in my life that I’ve gotten a dive with straight 10s and they’ve all happened to be this year,” Mitcham said.
“So I can easily say this has been the best season of my life by far.
“It’s been a really big day, so I’m stoked with how I did.”
Mitcham, who will have back scans after nationals to ensure he is clear of serious damage, said it was important to adapt to different situations to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics.
“Divers have to do this all the time and I could be in exactly the same sort of situation in London, under all these different circumstances and conditions,” Mitcham said.
“You have to practise (under these circumstances), in case it could happen in the Olympics.
“This is my pet event and this is what I’m concentrating on for London.”
Mitcham is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and Science at
