Mears and Laugher headline 2017 World Series squad

Chris Mears and Jack Laugher are the star names in an eight-member British diving team for the 2017 FINA/NVC Diving World Series.

The Olympic 3m Synchro champions kicked off their season with gold at the season-opening National Cup in Plymouth earlier this month.

The first leg of the World Series will take place in Beijing, China from 3 – 5 March. The squad will then go on to compete in Guangzhou, China (9 – 11 March), Kazan, Russia (31 March – 2 April) and Windsor, Canada (21 – 23 April).

Olympic 10m Synchro bronze medallists Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow have also been included in the squad.

Plymouth’s Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson will team up in the women’s 10m Synchro while City of Leeds’ Katherine Torrance – star of the National Cup with a hat-trick of golds – will go in the 3m Synchro with Rio 2016 Olympic Grace Reid.

A different pressure for me and Jack

Mears said: “It’ll be the first time we go into the World Series being champions and I know that will add a different pressure to the competition for me and Jack.

“But we have worked hard through the winter and we competed well in Plymouth which has given us confidence.

“I’ve competed at the World Series for the past six years and it’s a great competition.

“Being able to have an early season test against the world’s best divers is so valuable to allow you to prepare for the big meet of the year.

“We are all aiming for the World Championships this summer and we won’t stop our hard work to continue to be one of the best synchro pairs in the world.”

English divers to compete at the 2017 World Series

• Chris Mears (City of Leeds)
• Jack Laugher (City of Leeds)
• Tom Daley (Dive London)
• Dan Goodfellow (City of Leeds)
• Tonia Couch (Plymouth Diving)
• Lois Toulson (City of Leeds)
• Katherine Torrance (City of Leeds)