City of Leeds land hat-trick of titles at British Swimming Awards

City of Leeds landed a hat-trick of titles at the British Swimming Awards.

Adam Smallwood picked up the Coach of the Year crown, Jack Laugher was named Diving Athlete of the Year while Anthony Harding won the Diving Emerging Athlete of the Year prize.

For Harding, it capped an incredible first year in the senior ranks which saw him win a medal in every international event he competed in.

He said: “I’m super happy as I was not really expecting the award as there are two other competitors who were really good as well and achieved similar to me.

“I was not really expecting anything in my first senior year as you don’t really expect anything big but I came away with a medal in every single event.

“I’m training with two of the best in the world in Daniel Goodfellow and Jack Laugher – I can only get better training with them. I feel myself progressing and hopefully will achieve big things in 2020.”

Laugher’s trophy was collected by Lois Toulson on his behalf and she said the award would mean ‘so much to him’.

“He would want to say a massive thank you,” said Toulson.

“It’s such an honour for him and these things mean so much to him. He’s putting in so much hard work and coming away with some really good results.

“It’s great all the hard work is paying off for him.”

Laugher, Toulson and the rest of the British divers are now looking forward to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games.

“It’s really exciting,” said Toulson. “There is such a buzz every day coming into training. It’s getting closer and closer and we’re all looking forward to it.

“We’re putting in the hard work and hopefully we’ll have the best year possible.”

Pictures: British Swimming Twitter

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