The 19-year-old scored a total of 313.70 points, putting a premature end to his campaign at the 2024 OIympics. The top 18 finishers after six dives advance to the next round scheduled for tomorrow.

Bertrand was the country’s flag bearer at the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26, alongside sailor Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif.

He is still some distance from challenging the world’s best.

Bertrand started decently today, scoring 66.00 and 60.80 points for his inward 3½ somersaults and armstand back 3 somersaults in the first two dives, keeping him on course for a qualification spot.

However, the Sarawakian’s form dipped, and he managed only 49.50, 34.00 and 37.80 points in the next three dives, causing him to slip out of the top 18.

Although he recovered somewhat with a score of 65.60 in his sixth and final dive, it was not enough to change the standings.

China’s defending champion Cao Yuan topped the preliminary round with 500.15 points, followed by Japan’s Rikuto Tamai (497.15) and Canada’s Rylan Wiens (485.25).

A clearly dejected Bertrand admitted after the event that he struggled with his dives due to pressure.

“I wouldn’t say it was my best performance, but it wasn’t the worst either. At this level, I feel like I didn’t deliver. The pressure got to me (during the competition),” he said, struggling to hold back tears.

“I couldn’t focus and perform well. This is the end of my Olympics (journey), and I don’t have much to say. It’s a new dive and a new thing for me, and with the pressure, I couldn’t execute it as well.

“I’ll bounce back stronger in the next tournaments. This is just the start, and hopefully I can deliver in the future.”

Bertrand won a bronze medal with Enrique Maccartney Harold in the 10m platform synchronised event at the 2022 Asian Games last October.

He plans to take some time off to spend with his family after intense training over the past few months.