TAYLOR AND WATERFIELD TEAM UP AGAIN
Olympic silver medallists Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor
join forces this weekend for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal
- the first time the pair have dived together since winning
Great Britain's first diving medal for 44 years in Athens
last summer.
It's been just over eight months since Great Britain's diving
heroes have taken to the high boards for international competition,
with both divers having been dogged with injuries.
Southampton's Waterfield injured his back whilst washing his
car, while Sheffield's Taylor, who trains at Ponds Forge,
suffered more serious injuries in a car crash.
Thankfully, both divers have recovered and Taylor and Waterfield
teamed up a fortnight ago for an intensive US training camp
in Houston, the first time they have had the chance to dive
together since winning plenty of admirers in Greece last August.
"It's tough getting to the top, but it's twice as tough
staying there," said Steve Foley, Great Britain's National
Diving Performance Director.
"Montreal is going to be a big test for Peter and Leon.
They've not dived together since the Olympics, so this competition
might bring them down to earth a little.
"It's a good chance to gage how well they are doing.
Their reputation won't hurt them, in fact it might help them
with the judges.
"But they've only trained together for two weeks and
there'll be some good teams out there trying to knock them
off their perch."
A view shared by Taylor, who is relishing competing with Waterfield
again.
"Me and Peter enjoy diving together, but it has been
a long time since we've dived competitively as a pair, so
it will be a bit weird," said Taylor.
"The Olympics was a fantastic experience. To win a silver
medal was a lifetime ambition. We would have preferred it
to be gold, but it's time to look forward now and try and
build on our success."
Taylor and Waterfield already have their eyes set on competing
at the 2008 Olympics, in Beijing between August 8-24.
But for now Taylor admits it is crucial the pair perform well
in Canada, and then the US Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale (May
12-15).
"We've got the World Championships later this year, so
these two competitions are really important to us both,"
he added.
"We need to find some form and get a good hit-out together
in the pool. It would be nice to medal, but we know we are
going to face some tough competition."
Indeed, Taylor and Waterfield will come face-to-face with
the world's elite. China, Australia and respective hosts Canada,
then America, all of whom will be gunning for honours.
"We've proven that we can beat the best in the world,
but we're not resting on our Athens' success.
"There's a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we're confident
we can rediscover the form we found at the Olympics.
"We've worked so hard we are not about to throw it all
way. We said after the Sydney Olympics that we were sick of
finishing fourth. We only want to win medals now!"
Sheffield diver Tony Ally will also be competing at the Canadian
and US Grand Prix, the first time the three-times Olympian
has performed on the international stage because of injury.
Ally will be joined in the GB team by Leeds starlet Tandi
Indergaard, the Yorkshire diver who will hope to challenge
for honours in the three-metre individual and synchronised
competitions.
Indergaard enters unchartered waters, competing alongside
Hayley Sage in the synchro competition following the retirement
of Jane Smith, her regular partner and experienced Olympian.
The Canada leg of the FINA Grand Prix takes place
from 6-8 May in Montreal and the US leg is in Fort Lauderdale
from 12-15 May.
The British diving squad is as follows:
Tony Ally (Sheffield)
Leon Taylor (Sheffield)
Peter Waterfield (Southampton)
Sarah Barrow (Plymouth)
Brooke Graddon (Plymouth)
Tandi Indergaard
Stacie Powell (Bagiu Diving Academy)
Hayley Sage (Beaumont Diving Academy)
Karen Smith (Crystal Palace) - Canada only
Louise Van Hoof (City of Leeds)
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