British youngsters to take on Europe's elite at Diving Grand Prix

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Ben Cutmore will look to continue their impressive rise on the international stage as they compete for Great Britain at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Rostock.

The two young divers have made a seamless transition into senior competition, despite only leaving the Swim England Talent Programme last year.

The pair represented Britain at the 2019 LEN European Junior Diving Championships, with Spendolini-Sirieix winning multiple medals in Kazan.

That led to them making their senior international debuts at the Grand Prix meet in Singapore, where they both stepped onto the podium. 

Spendolini-Sirieix won her maiden British title in the Women’s 10m Platform at the British National Diving Championships 2020 in January, while Cutmore won a synchro gold medal and individual bronze from the platform.

Suzie Collins, Swim England’s Talent Development Officer for Diving, said: “It has been great to watch Andrea and Ben step up at senior level over the last year.

“Just a year ago, they were part of the Swim England Team Y squad, which shows just how much they have progressed.

“Andrea and Ben both made their mark at the British Championships last month and I’m sure they will gain plenty of experience from competing against an international field in Rostock.”

Strong British showing

Maria Papworth Burrel – the Women’s 3m Springboard national champion – features in a strong team of 16 British divers for the second leg of the Grand Prix.

The Dive London athlete edged out Olympian and Commonwealth champion Grace Reid at the British Championships in Plymouth, overcoming a myriad of injury problems in the build-up to the competition.

Youngsters Josie Zillig, Phoebe Banks and Emily Martin will compete against seasoned divers Robyn Birch, Ross Haslam and James Heatly.

Plymouth’s Matthew Dixon will be buoyant after breaking the 500-point barrier for the first time in his career to win the men’s British platform title.

Anthony Harding and Jordan Houlden are also in the squad, having impressed to win a bronze medal at the European Diving Championships in Ukraine last year.