OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS FIT FOR U.S. TEST
OLYMPIC silver medallists Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor
will dive together for the first time in eight months at the
US Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale from today.
The Athens heroes are confirmed to compete in the 10metre
platform synchronised competition following doubts raised
after Waterfield suffered a back-injury at the Canadian Grand
Prix in Montreal last weekend.
"I dived well in Canada at the weekend but it will be
good to dive with Peter again," said Taylor.
"I didn't know how I was going to dive because I've been
out for so long, but fourth was good because the competition
was tough." Taylor nearly snatched a bronze medal if
it had not been for some starring performances from Cuban
ace Jose Guerra and Olympic champion Jia Hu, of China, who
deservedly won gold and silver respectively. Seventeen-year-old
Australian Matthew Mitcham pipped Taylor to a podium finish,
but the south Yorkshire diver is hungry for revenge. "The
Cuban can dive hot or cold, and in Canada he dived very hot,
as did the other lads," added Taylor. "I know it's
going to be tough but I'm diving well. I'd prefer to have
it this way because it makes me raise my own game. "The
next few months are really important for everyone in the British
team because we are looking ahead to the World Championship.
It would be nice to win a medal there."
Three-times Olympian Tony Ally, who has also been injured,
is also set to dive on the international circuit after a long
absence. The Sheffield diver last competed in the British
National Championships at Ponds Forge at the start of the
year but has a slight back strain and awaits a late fitness
test.
Leeds diver Tandi Indergaard is Britain's most experienced
competitor in the women's competition.
She will compete in the 3metre springboard individual and
synchronised competitions, the latter with Louise Van Hoof,
one of two new diving partners she is competing with ahead
of the World Championships.
Hayley Sage has already competed with Indergaard but Steve
Foley, British Diving's National Performance Director, wants
to try a variety of combinations to see which pair is best
suited to challenge the world's elite.
"Peter and Leon are fit, which is great, and the rest
of the team are looking forward to competing," said Foley.
"We did well in Canada. There were some very pleasing
performances, so hopefully we can build on those this weekend."
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