Courtesy: Aquatics GB
Three divers have today been confirmed by the BOA (British Olympic Association) to complete Team GB’s diving team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Grace Reid has been selected for her third Games appearance, eight years on from her debut at Rio 2016, while Jordan Houlden and Kyle Kothari are preparing for their first Olympics as they join the eight athletes already named to the team as part of the synchronised diving pair selections.
The trio of Reid, Houlden and Kothari competed at last month’s Speedo Aquatics GB Diving Championships – and following the conclusion of that event, the full 11-strong Olympic diving team is now complete as the final eight weeks of preparations begin, leading up to the Women’s 3m Synchro final on Saturday 27th July, which opens the diving programme at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Paris.
Two-time World Championship-medal-winning duo Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen will pair up for that synchro contest, with Harper and Reid selected to compete in the individual Women’s 3m Springboard event.
Houlden and Rio 2016 medallist Jack Laugher will be the individual Men’s 3m Springboard divers for Team GB, with Laugher and Anthony Harding already confirmed for the Men’s 3m Synchro, while Kothari and Noah Williams are Britain’s individual Men’s 10m Platform divers – Williams teaming up with soon-to-be five-time Olympian Tom Daley in the Men’s 10m Synchro, an event which brought a memorable Team GB gold in Tokyo.
In the women’s platform events, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson will compete together in the 10m Synchro, with both also lining up separately in the individual Women’s 10m Platform programme – Spendolini-Sirieix having claimed a historic world bronze in that event earlier this year, and Toulson having secured one of the two quota spots for GB with her performance at last year’s Worlds in Fukuoka.
Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England commented: “It’s always an honour to recognise this important moment in any athletes’ career and especially so for those making their debut at the Olympic Games, just as Jordan and Kyle are. I hope they go on to have wonderful Olympic careers and match the outstanding feat that Grace has in qualifying for her third Olympic Games. I wish them all the best of luck in Paris.”
Aquatics GB Associate Performance Director Tim Jones is delighted to complete the diving line-up for Paris – and off the back of a record-breaking set of performances at February’s World Championships in Doha, he is looking forward to seeing the team come together in Paris.
Jones said: “It is fantastic to be able to add Grace, Kyle and Jordan to what was already a really strong Olympic diving team. Grace joins Lois, Tom and Jack in bringing a wealth of previous Olympic experience with her after showing brilliant commitment to earn another selection, while Jordan and Kyle have worked incredibly hard and shown good consistency in the critical competition moments to earn their Team GB debuts – always a big moment for any athlete in any sport.
“With our team for the Games now complete, the final preparations really begin. We put in some extremely promising displays at the recent Paris test event at the new Olympic venue, and competing in that pool also gave us a good insight into how things will look when it comes to the Olympics.
“Our athletes, coaches and support staff will be working together over the coming weeks to fine-tune preparations and ensure everyone is in the best position, physically and mentally, when they enter the arena at the end of July.”
Looking ahead to another Games experience, Reid said: “I’m absolutely over the moon that I’m going to my third Olympic Games. When I was five years old, I dreamt about going to my first – and the thought of preparing for this one makes it extra special. Paris is a very special place to me, it always has been since I was a little girl and dreaming about the Olympics. It’s overwhelming. I have come so far, particularly between Tokyo and now, that this one feels extra special to me.”
With his first Olympics now on the horizon, Kothari said: “Not every path to a Games is the same. To get here after eight years of injuries and three surgeries is a testament to the sacrifices, endless rehab, and support from everyone who believed in me. I’m extremely proud of my journey and that’s what makes this selection special.”
Fellow Olympic debutant Houlden added: “It means a lot to me to be selected to go to the Olympics – but it meant the world to me when I told my family and friends and saw their reactions.”
Team GB Diving team for Paris 2024:
- Tom Daley (Aquatics GB Performance Centre London / UCLA) – Men’s 10m Synchro
- Anthony Harding (Aquatics GB Performance Centre Leeds) – Men’s 3m Synchro
- Yasmin Harper (Sheffield Diving Club) – Women’s 3m Springboard, Women’s 3m Synchro
- Jordan Houlden (Sheffield Diving Club) – Men’s 3m Springboard
- Kyle Kothari (Aquatics GB Performance Centre London) – Men’s 10m Platform
- Jack Laugher (Aquatics GB Performance Centre Leeds) – Men’s 3m Springboard, Men’s 3m Synchro
- Scarlett Mew Jensen (Aquatics GB Performance Centre London) – Women’s 3m Synchro
- Grace Reid (Aquatics GB Performance Centre London) – Women’s 3m Springboard
- Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (Aquatics GB Performance Centre London) – Women’s 10m Platform, Women’s 10m Synchro
- Lois Toulson (Aquatics GB Performance Centre Leeds) – Women’s 10m Platform, Women’s 10m Synchro
- Noah Williams (Aquatics GB Performance Centre London) – Men’s 10m Platform, Men’s 10m Synchro
