European Junior Diving Championships will provide 'priceless experience'

Seventeen of Britain’s top young divers are set to gain ‘priceless experience’ after being selected to compete at the European Junior Championships in Bucharest, Romania in July.

The squad includes a quintet of medallists from last year’s event, with Southampton pair Leon Baker and Tilly Brown featuring alongside City of Sheffield’s Maisie Bond, Plymouth’s Euan McCabe and Luton’s Amy Rollinson as they look for more success at a European level.

Joining them in Romania are promising youngsters Todd Geegus (Southend Diving), Jordan Fisher-Eames (Luton Diving Club), Robbie Lee (Southampton Diving Academy), Hugo Thomas (Dive London), Chloe Johnson (City of Leeds Diving Club) and Oscar Kane (Luton Diving Club) who all took eye-catching golds at the British Elite Junior Championships in Southend last month.

The high-quality event at the Southend Swimming and Diving Centre played a key role in these selections for the major junior meet of the summer.

The return of competitive events also sees an increase in the size of the squad heading to Bucharest, with last year’s squad the ‘smallest team to attend the Euros in more than a decade’.

Only 12 divers were selected in 2021, which increases to a 17-strong squad this time around.

The European Junior Championships will take place at the Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex over a three-week period in July, with the diving taking place from 18-24 July .

Hopeful of more success

Speaking about the team selection, Julian Bellan, team manager and British Diving performance pathway lead, said: “We are really excited by the team we have been able to pick for the European Juniors, on the back of another impressive showing from our young divers in Southend, at the Elite Junior Diving Championships.

“European Juniors always provide priceless experience for the next generation against international divers. The 2021 team produced some memorable medal moments, and with this team blending previous European experience with those new to this competition, we are hopeful of more success and plenty of learnings in Bucharest.

“Many of the team are also competing at the upcoming Futures Cup, as well as the British Championships in Sheffield, and it is fantastic that so many chances to compete and refine their dives are now available for our young athletes.”

Full British Diving team for the 2022 European Junior Championships:

Leon Baker, Southampton Diving Academy

Desharne Bent-Ashmeil, Dive London

Maisie Bond, City of Sheffield Diving Club

Tilly Brown, Southampton Diving Academy

Jordan Fisher-Eames, Luton Diving Club

Todd Geggus, Southend Diving

Chloe Johnson, City of Leeds Diving Club

Oscar Kane, Luton Diving Club

Connor Lano, Southend Diving

Robbie Lee, Southampton Diving Academy

Danny Mabbott, Edinburgh Diving Club

Euan McCabe, Plymouth Diving Club

Hannah Newbrook, Dive London

Amy Rollinson, Luton Diving Club

Evie Smith, Crystal Palace Diving Club

Hugo Thomas, Dive London

Oscar Willcox, City of Sheffield Diving Club

Top