GB Diving squad announced for European Aquatics Championships

Great Britain have announced their diving squad for the upcoming European Aquatics Championships in Rome.

The squad includes six medallists from the recent World Championships and they’ll be looking to continue that success inside the iconic Stadio Olimpico Del Nuoto from 15 August – 21 August.

The European Championships will be the conclusion to a trilogy of major international meets this summer, following the Worlds last month and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

A 14-strong British cohort will look to round out the season in style, in a programme that features the usual individual and synchro events for men and women plus mixed 3m and 10m synchro contests and a mixed team event.

Each member of the squad will be competing at the Commonwealth Games beforehand as the packed summer of diving continues.

There is a senior international GB debut for platform diver Ben Cutmore, who will represent Team England in Birmingham beforehand, while Yasmin Harper, Amy Rollinson and Desharne Bent-Ashmeil are all ready for more valuable experience after their senior bows at the World Championships.

Jack Laugher will be targeting more medals in Rome after his history making performances at the Budapest World Championships.

He is a part of the team and will be hoping to make the podium both individually and alongside new synchro partner Anthony Harding with the pair securing a World’s Men’s 3m Synchro silver together last month.

Noah Williams – who won Men’s 10m Synchro Worlds silver with Matty Lee – is also in the squad and will have an eye on silverware in the individual competition, after an impressive fifth-placed finish in that contest at the World Championships.

James Heatly won a pair of mixed synchro bronzes in Budapest, alongside Grace Reid (Mixed 3m Synchro) and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (Mixed Team event), and all three of those Worlds medallists will board the plane to Rome.

Lois Toulson is also included, 13 months on from earning a European Women’s 10m Platform synchro silver.

‘A blend of world-class experience and talent of the future’

British Swimming Associate Performance Director Tim Jones is looking forward to seeing how the athletes can step up as the three-year Olympic cycle into Paris continues.

He said: “We all know this is an unprecedented period in terms of elite competition – but our divers’ performances and attitude at the recent World Championships show just how resilient and committed they are.”

“It is another tribute to this team’s desire that we have so many athletes keen to push on for a third event in such short succession, and this will stand them in good stead for any future challenges.

“We are very excited to see our divers deliver again in Rome, at such an amazing venue, with yet another blend of world-class experience and the talent of the future, keen to gain more arena experience and build on other recent performances.

“We know the effort that has gone into preparing for this summer for every single diver on our programme.

“Those who have elected not to compete at the Europeans as they take stock ahead of the 2022-23 season have done so with our full support, in the knowledge that we want every individual to do what is best for them as they gear up for another important year.”