Magnificent seven City of Leeds divers named in England squad

CITY OF Leeds Diving Club members Jack Laugher, Chris Mears, Matty Lee, Alicia Blagg, Katherine Torrance, Daniel Goodfellow and Lois Toulson have all been selected in the 13-strong diving squad Team England has announced for April's Commonwealth Games.
Chris Mears and Jack Laugher.Chris Mears and Jack Laugher.
Chris Mears and Jack Laugher.

Laugher and Mears famously won the synchronised 3m springboard event at the Rio 2016 Olympics and also claimed Commonwealth gold medals four years ago in Glasgow while Blagg was also a 2014 Commonwealth Games champion.

Tom Daley, the current 10 metres platform world champion, seventeen-year-old Matthew Dixon, who last month won the 10m platform title at the British Championships are also in the group. Dixon competed at the Glasgow Games aged 14.

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Meanwhile, City of Leeds diver Yona Knight-Wisdom will also compete in his second Commonwealth Games after being selected in the Jamaican team.

Alicia Blagg.Alicia Blagg.
Alicia Blagg.

Team England have previously won 67 medals in diving at the Commonwealth Games, including 27 gold and topped the diving medal table at Glasgow 2014.

Fresh from winning the 2018 British Diving Championships in the women’s 10m platform, Toulson will be joining Team England for the first time. The European champion and world silver medallist in the mixed 10m platform synchronised event said: “I feel very honoured to be selected for my first Commonwealth Games, and I am looking forward to representing Team England out in Australia.

“I’ve had a good start to the year, holding on to my title at the British Diving Championships last month, so I’m feeling good about the Gold Coast. Hopefully I can keep that momentum going and put in some strong performances in April.”

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“I had a great year last year, retaining my 10m title at the World Championships, and I am hoping that I can build on that and put in some great performances out on the Gold Coast in April.”

Lois Toulson.Lois Toulson.
Lois Toulson.

Meanwhile, Daley, who will be competing in the individual 10m platform and 3m synchronised events, said: “It is an honour to be selected to represent Team England at my third Commonwealth Games.

“I had a great year last year, retaining my 10m title at the World Championships, and I am hoping that I can build on that and put in some great performances out on the Gold Coast in April.”

City of Sheffield diver, Jack Haslam secured his place on Team England when he took the 3m Springboard title at the British Diving Championships 2018.

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Haslam will be flying out to the Gold Coast and competing along-side his brother Ross who is also a City of Sheffield diver.

Alicia Blagg.Alicia Blagg.
Alicia Blagg.

Haslam said: “The Commonwealth Games is one of the most prestigious competitions there is, so it’s a massive honour to be able to represent Team England.

“I am over the moon to be going to the Gold Coast and what makes it even more special is that one of the events that I will competing in over there will be the synchronised 3m with my brother which is incredible.”

England squad: Robyn Birch, Alicia Blagg, Tom Daley, Matthew Dixon, Daniel Goodfellow, Jack Haslam, Ross Haslam, Jack Laugher, Matty Lee, Chris Mears, Katherine Torrance, Lois Toulson, Noah Williams.