Eight divers join Team Z after Talent Games ‘packed with potential’

Eight young divers have joined Swim England Diving’s Team Z squad after the Talent Games event at the start of November.

Divers from six clubs have been selected after their performances at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds.

Amongst those that have joined the programme are Alice Morksyj and Brogann Gainfort who won eight golds between them at the competition.

Team Z is the first step on the Swim England Diving talent pathway. It provides up to 15 divers the opportunity to take part in seven camps over a two-year programme.

The camps cover a range of themes in both pool and dry land while they also give athletes the experience of being away from home and developing lifestyle skills.

Throughout the period, Swim England Diving will also be looking to prepare the athletes for junior international competition and continue with their development.

The new recruits won’t have to wait long for their first holding camp, which will take place at the start of 2023, from 5-7 January in Sheffield.

They will join the fourteen divers selected to join the programme last year and those that have just completed their first year of the programme and will continue onto their fifth camp at Ponds Forge in the New Year.

Supporting the next generation

Connie Ford, Swim England’s diving programme lead, said: “We’re excited to welcome our 2023 cohort to the Team Z programme.

“This year’s Talent Games was filled with challenges for the athletes so we’re really looking forward to developing this cohort of athletes and supporting them on their journey.

“We really hope that the divers that haven’t been selected come back again next year, especially those in the younger D1 and E age group categories who showed some impressive skills this year.

“Thank you to all the clubs, divers and our incredible volunteers for supporting the competition and we can’t wait to watch these divers develop further in the future.”

Click here to find out more about the Swim England Diving Talent Pathway.