Hampton Park diving dynamos Janahlia, Eryn and Rhiannon Fullard display the spoils of their success. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
MEET Hampton Park’s Fullard clan.
By next month, sisters Rhiannon, Eryn and Janahlia Fullard will all have competed at national level in diving.
Their phenomenal feats began with Rhiannon, 17, whose incredible performances inspired her younger siblings to follow in her footsteps.
Rhiannon’s distinguished junior diving career peaked in 2003 when she won a bronze medal for Australia in the one-metre springboard event at the Pacific Rim Championships in Perth.
The year 12 Hampton Park Secondary College student has since retired to become a diving coach at Ringwood Aquatic Centre, where both her sisters train.
“When you’re younger, you always dream that one day you’ll compete for Australia,” Rhiannon said.
“It’s that goal you have, but you never think you’re going to get there.
“To be standing there so soon in my career was the best feeling and wearing a uniform that had Australia on it was the best thing ever.”
But while Rhiannon is unlikely to return to diving competitively, her influence has helped introduce Eryn and Janahlia to the sport, and they are enjoying just as much success.
Last year the Victorian Diving Association (VDA) named Eryn, 16, as the most outstanding female diver over all age groups.
That accolade came after she won gold medals in the 1m and 3m springboard, the 5m platform, and the synchronised 3m springboard at the Victorian Junior Elite and Age State Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).
Eryn followed that up by claiming a bronze medal in the 5m platform at the Australian Age Championships in Perth.
Despite all of Eryn’s accomplishments, she is unlikely to pursue a senior career in diving.
“I more got into the sport from the influence of my older sister and for health and to have some fun,” she said.
“I’m glad I’ve had achievements and it would be nice to keep achieving, but I have no plans to go professional.
“I want to have more social time to be a normal teenager.”
Eryn has already qualified for March’s Australian Age Championships in Tasmania and is also aiming to compete at the Pacific School Games in Canberra this year.
The latest Fullard to make a name for herself in diving is 11-year-old Janahlia.
The grade six River Gum Primary School student only started the sport 16 months ago, but just four weeks into her training the VDA approached her to be put on its talent identification list.
The family declined, but it has not stopped Janahlia from surging to prominence.
She qualified for this year’s Australian Age Championships at last month’s Australian Country Championships in Newcastle and will join Eryn at this weekend’s Victorian Junior Elite and Age State Championships at MSAC.
But the talented youngster is also shining in the pool, where she competed at this month’s Victorian Sprint Championships for Swimland Swim Club in Narre Warren.
“I love the two sports a lot and when I’m older I’ll decide whether I’ll go with this one or the other,” Janahlia said.
“My two sisters did well in diving, so I decided to have a go at it and from then on I’ve been really successful at it.
“I’d like to thank Mum and Dad (Vicki and Anthony) for driving me around to diving and swimming.”
With the trio’s stunning success, surely their parents can claim some of the credit.
Not so, according to Vicki.
“I have no idea whatsoever where they got their talent from,” she said. “They just all work hard.”
