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Australian diver Cassiel Rousseau has opted not to defend his crown at the looming world championships in Qatar.
Rousseau became Australia's first world champion in the men's 10-metre platform at last year's titles in Fukuoka, Japan.
But just days before Friday's start of the next worlds in Doha, Rousseau has elected not to defend his title.
Instead, the 22-year-old will compete in the men's 10m synchronised event as he and Domonic Bedggood seek to secure Australia a quota spot for the Olympic Games in Paris starting in July.
Rousseau's 2023 world-title win guaranteed him a spot in the 10m platform at the Paris Games.
But Australia are yet to lock in a men's synchro slot for the Olympics, which is now the focus for Rousseau.
"In diving, most of the time we train and compete on our own," Rousseau said.
"The synchro events allow us to compete as a team, and getting the opportunity to experience that feeling at an Olympic Games would be unreal."
The Australia team has made another late change with Nikita Hains replacing Charli Petrov as the partner of stalwart Melissa Wu in the women's 10m synchro.
Petrov had been selected for the event in December while recovering from stress fractures in her back.
But Diving Australia's performance director Steve Foley said the 16-year-old had failed to prove her fitness.
"We gave Charli every chance to be competition-ready but ultimately time got the better of her," Foley said.
"She's come a long way in training in recent weeks but her career is only beginning and we need to protect that."
AAP
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