Openly gay and 2008 Olympic Champion Matthew Mitcham of Australia has overcome a recent injury in taking his first step towards defending his Olympic title in London at the Australian Diving Championships.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald: The 23-year-old suffered a serious abdominal injury in April and had just two weeks preparation for the national championships in Adelaide, his first major competition this year.

Mitcham, who won the 10 metre platform at the Beijing Games when he posted the highest single-dive score (112.10) in Olympic history, easily won the national title. He scored 480.05 points with his nearest rival Matthew Barnard (Qld) on 430.30.


"I am pleased with my result today after my limited preparation," said Mitcham who missed the world championships in July in Shanghai.

"I am a bit tender but not as bad after the prelims and semi finals.

"This was a good test for me today. I can now continue with my final rehab, have a bit of a rest and strengthen all my muscles around the tear."

The top two divers from the national titles qualify for the World Cup in London in February, which doubles as an Olympic trial and is where Mitcham will face English teenager Tom Daley and Chinese divers Qiu Bo and Huo Liang.

Despite winning four Commonwealth Games silver medals in various categories, Mitcham has decided to focus solely on his speciality, the 10m platform ahead of London.

Meanwhile the final of the women's three metre springboard event in Adelaide saw Sharleen Stratton (QLD) continue her consistent form to win the gold with a score of 333.40.

"I am so pleased with my win ... it keeps my plan on track for Olympic selection next year," Stratton said.

In the final of the women's 10 metre synchro event, Alexandra Croak and Melissa Wu from NSW, won the gold with a score of 329.58, followed by Rachel Bugg (SA) and Loudy Wiggins (VIC) 324.03