Melissa Wu’s 12-year wait for gold

Diver Melissa Wu has waited for this moment for 12 years – her first individual, international gold medal.

Aussies first met Wu at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games when she was chosen in the Australian team. She was 13 years old.

Fast forward to today and she’s 25 years old with three Olympics and four Commonwealth Games under her belt, basking in the glow of her first gold.

But it almost wasn’t to be.

Wu was competing as the beneficiary of a discretionary pick after she missed the Australian selection trials in December last year.

She won by less than a point, over silver medallist Meaghan Benfeito of Canada. England’s Lois Toulson took bronze.

“It’s hard to get that gold, there’s only one spot, one gold,” Wu told 9NEWS.

“There’s not many divers I don’t think in the world that have a lot of gold because the Chinese are such powerhouses.

“To be able to do this at a home games, in front of all the Aussies supporters and my family in the crowd means a lot.”