INJURY SCARE FOR OLYMPIC HERO TAYLOR
Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor is a major doubt for
tomorrow's ten-metre platform synchronised competition at
the Rome Grand Prix after injuring his neck in training.
The Sheffield splash sensation is looking forward to diving
with fellow Athens hero Peter Waterfield, from Southampton,
in the men's competition which gets underway tomorrow (Sunday)
morning.
But it seems the pair are jinxed at the moment, having not
dived together for nearly ten months.
Injuries to both divers have stopped them competing with each
other - now a major worry with the World Championships, in
Canada, just around the corner next month.
"Leon's hurt his neck, so hopefully he has time to rest
until Sunday and compete with Peter," revealed Steve
Foley, the Great Britain National Performance Director.
"We're going to leave it to the physio to call - it's
that decision which will determine whether the lads dive together."
However, Foley is not worried that the Olympic medal-winning
duo will be on song in time for the World Championships, especially
with the British National Championships coming up in Southampton.
"It's frustrating for everyone that the lads haven't
been able to dive, but there's still time," added Foley.
"Peter's going to get the chance to dive in the ten-metre
individual competition, which will be a good test, and Leon
managed to dive in the individual competition and win gold
at the US Grand Prix last month."
The opening day of this year's Grand Prix only saw two of
Britain's divers in action.
The national team did not have divers in the women's ten-metre
platform competition, with no Stacie Powell, Karen Smith or
Sarah Barrow in Italy.
But Blake Aldridge and Ben Swain both dived in the three-metre
springboard individual competition.
Crystal Palace's Aldridge placed 29th and Sheffield's Swain
21st in a strong field.
"Ben did a good job and Blake dived OK, but I know both
of them can dive better," said Foley.
Today's action will see Waterfield take to the high board
in the ten-metre individual platform preliminaries, looking
to book a place in this year's showcase final.
Hayley Sage and Emma Teather will compete in the three-metre
springboard individual competition, while Sunday sees the
synchronised disciplines all day, with Waterfield and Taylor
hopefully pairing up.
The Great Britain team is (as follows): Leon
Taylor, Claire Blencowe, Ben Swain (Sheffield); Tonia Couch,
Gareth Jones (Plymouth); Rebecca Galantree, Emma Teather (Leeds);
Hayley Sage (Beaumont DI); Blake Aldridge (Crystal Palace);
Peter Waterfield (Southampton). Team Manager: Martyn Brown.
National Performance Director: Steve Foley.
|