Toulson prepared for Games challenge

Lois Toulson hopes perfect preparation will give Team England’s divers a chance of success at the Commonwealth Games.

The 18-year-old, who won a silver medal in the mixed 10m synchro alongside Matty Lee at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, is making her first Commonwealth Games appearance.

• Date of Birth: 26/09/1999
• Club: City of Leeds Diving Club
• Coach: Marc Holdsworth
• CWG: Making debut at Gold Coast 2018.

And the City of Leeds diver says the team are ready to face the challenge of diving in an outdoor pool at the Optus Aquatic Centre on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Toulson said: “It feels amazing to be selected, it’s going to be my first Commonwealth Games and I can’t wait. Especially to go out to Australia it’ll be amazing.

“I haven’t competed out there but I have been over to the Gold Coast for a training camp and I’m excited to go back.

“I think the sun and the wind out there is going to be quite difficult. But we’ve been there before so hopefully nothing will be too new and we’ll be able to deal with it on competition day.

“We’ve got a really good support team around us at British Diving. Physiotherapists, nutritionists psychologists, we’ve got everything. I don’t think I’d be here without them – they’ve been amazing.”

Games feel like big deal

Toulson says it will be a ‘crazy’ feeling walking around the Commonwealth Games village alongside people she has looked up to.

“I’m looking forward to the whole atmosphere in the village,” she said. “It’s going to be amazing to see all the athletes just walking around. I can’t wait.

“It feels like a big deal and there’s a lot of big names. It’s crazy just walking round and seeing people that I’ve looked up to for years.”

Toulson on top form this season

Toulson has started 2018 in fine form, winning her third British platform title in four years with a dominant performance in Plymouth.

She followed that up by combining with Matty Lee to take silver in the mixed 10m synchro at the first FINA Grand Prix of the year in Rostock, Germany, as well as claiming bronze in the 10m platform.

Toulson then enjoyed further success in Beijing, as she and Lee secured a bronze medal at the FINA Diving World Series in the mixed 10m synchronised platform