Gallantree finishes ninth in London
24th February 2012
Rebecca Gallantree impressed for the British Gas GBR Diving Team in the final of the women’s 3m Springboard to finish ninth at the 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup.
The City of Leeds diver qualified a quota place for Great Britain by reaching this morning's semi final and as she soaked up the crowd screaming her name she performed consistently to reach her first individual World 3m final.
Gallantree took to the board in the final for her first dive, Front 2 1/2 Somersaults two twists piked, to score 67.50 and place her in fifth place ahead of the second dive.
It was more exciting than any other final I have been in.
She equalled the score with her next dive, the Reverse 2 1/2 somersaults piked, and finished the competition with her Back 2 1/2 Somersaults piked to score a total of 315.90.
"I was absolutely buzzing just to be in the final," Gallantree said. "It was my first individual final on 3m at world level so just to be in the final was really amazing.
"It was more exciting than any other final I have been in because of the crowd and the fact that it was in the Olympic pool. I am pleased with my consistency over the two days.
"I am a little disappointed in my last dive in that final because if I had done better I would have been on for a PB but at the same time I can't be too disappointed."
Olympic silver medallist Peter Waterfield progressed to the 10m Platform semi final after finishing 16th in today's prelims.
The Southampton Academy diver showed his strong resolve to come back from a missed dive and secure his place in the semi final.
It was a long competition and I haven't competed at all since the World Championships last year.
He dropped his Front 4 1/2 Somersaults tucked but came back with consistency in the next three rounds to pick up his ranking and qualified with a score of 423.25.
After the competition he said: "That was pretty tough. It was a long competition and I haven't competed at all since the World Championships last year.
"But I got through it in the end and made the semi finals. It is hard when you have such a long wait between dives.
"My first two dives were great and I was really up for it but as time goes on the adrenaline starts wearing off and you've really got to dig deep for the next few dives."
Waterfield's Southampton teammate Max Brick missed the semi final after finishing 31st with a score of 368.20.
