Katie praises coaches for helping her to 'unexpected' national title

Katie Garner praised her coaches for helping her to win an ‘unexpected’ Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships gold medal.

City of Sheffield Diving Club’s Garner was never out of the top two and led for five of the seven rounds of the Girls 14-15 Years 3m event.

She was 15.55 clear of the silver medallist – Southampton Diving Academy’s Felicity Cronin – after finishing on an impressive 257.20 points.

Garner was consistent throughout the competition and scored more than 40 points in three rounds – although she said her success was a surprise.

She said: “I’m really happy to win gold – I wasn’t expecting it.

“I was really happy with my reverse dive. I’m really happy with my coaches because they’ve pushed me a lot to be able to get these dives done.

“I’m in the platform and 1m competitions as well so I’m looking forward to those. I’m feeling fairly confident so, hopefully, I’ll get one more medal.”

Cronin bounces back

Cronin put a poor start behind her to finish in second spot on 243.65.

She was 17th after the first round and 10th with three dives to go.

But she then produced the highest-scoring individual dive of the competition – an inward two-and-a-half somersaults in the tuck position for 47.25 points – that took her into the silver medal position.

Crystal Palace Diving Club’s Louisa Job was 1.40 behind Cronin, after finishing on 242.25.