Jack Laugher became the first British diver to win multiple medals at a World Championship as he claimed 3m Springboard bronze in Kazan.
Having won 3m Synchro bronze with Chris Mears earlier in the week, the 20-year old scored 528.90 to finish behind China’s He Chao (555.05) and Russia’s Olympic champion Ilia Zakharov (547.60).
Laugher’s result means he is the first British diver to reach the podium in an individual springboard event at a World Championships and only the second, alongside Tom Daley, to win an individual medal.
Having won gold at three of the six legs of this year’s World Series, Laugher’s form did suggest he was capable of competing with the best in Kazan.
And the young Brit, who also won World Cup bronze and Commonwealth silver in the 3m last season, admitted his confidence was at an all-time high.
“I’m really happy to get a world bronze and the second medal of this trip,” said Laugher.
“It was a rock solid competition. Everyone was bouncing off each other and you see those mad scores like we’ve had today.
“The past year and a half has been absolutely fantastic. I got a bronze at the World Cup in Shanghai, followed by two Commonwealth medals as well, then being overall World Series champion. And a bronze today as well – I’m getting more confident with every competition I do and I’m still young.”
“I’ve learned a lot from this and moving on to Rio, hopefully I can put those experiences and lessons into plan. Hopefully it’s going to snowball and make me a better diver and a better competitor.
“I’ve been training hard throughout this year and it’s time for a break but I’m really proud of what I’ve done this year and everything has gone the way I wanted it.”
The British team – who also won gold in the Mixed Team event through Rebecca Gallantree and Daley – are now enjoying their most successful World Championships to date with three medals and they had Laugher’s consistency to thank for their latest prize as the Brit scored over 81 for all six of his dives.
He breached the 90s for two of them, the first elevating him temporarily to top spot on the leaderboard in the second round as he scored 94.50 for his reverse 3 ½ somersaults with tuck.
After remaining in the medal places throughout the next three rounds, he crucially surpassed 90 again with his last dive, scoring 93.60 for his back 3 ½ somersaults with tuck to set an ultimately elusive target for nearest rival Cao Yuan of China, who finished less than five points behind the Brit on 523.95.
Swimming news courtesy of British Swimming.
