Sharleen's Story
Sharleen Stratton was scouted at a local gymnastics competition when she was 10. Stratton and her family moved to Queensland to pursue her gymnastics but at the age of 12 Stratton was despondent about the sport. In 1999 a talent ID program sought an ex-gymnast to try diving and Stratton was the perfect fit.
She won two gold medals at the 2005 Australian Youth Olympic Festival and then claimed gold and silver medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Stratton was just 20 when she made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She placed fifth in the 3m synchronised springboard and seventh in the 3m springboard. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games Stratton won gold (3m) and silver (1m and 3m synchronised).
Stratton returned to compete at the London Games in the 3m springboard and synchronised 3m springboard with Anabelle Smith. She finished as the highest ranked Australian in the individual event, in fifth, as China’s Minxia Wu claimed gold. Stratton and Smith also finished in fifth in the synchro event- less than 12 points off a medal- as China claimed the gold.
