FOLEY URGES NEXT GENERATION TO STEP UP
The next generation of Olympic divers is being urged to take
strides towards that goal when the best talent in the country
gathers for the ASA National Championships this weekend.
Steve Foley, National Performance Director, will be closely
monitoring performances of younger divers as he challenges
them to fill voids left by recent retirements and to seize
opportunities presented by injuries to other athletes.
The three-day meet at the Manchester Aquatics Centre also
offers divers the chance to define their season with qualification
to this year's major events at stake.
"There will be a lot of pressure on the divers in Manchester,"
explained Foley. "They will be looking to qualify for
the World Cup, the pinnacle of our season, as well as the
European Championships.
"And it won't be enough to just qualify. Those who achieve
a qualifying score will also have to convince me they're worth
taking to these international events. I'll be looking to see
whether they've got what it takes to challenge for medals
and make a final.
"We need to be looking at top eight places at the World
Cup and I don't think our divers are hungry enough for that
at the moment. Some of them haven't shown what they're capable
of yet this year but this weekend will give them an ideal
opportunity to change that."
British Diving has a busy summer ahead with the World Cup
in China, Europeans in Hungary and European Juniors in Mallorca
all taking place in July. Add to these the World Junior Championships
in Malaysia come August and athletes will have a lot to dive
for this weekend in addition to national honours.
"The World Cup is our main focus as all the leading
nations, such as China, Canada, Australia and the U.S., will
be there. It will be as tough as the World Championships and
will demand a lot from our divers," said Foley.
"For those who don't make the cut they will still have
the opportunity to qualify for the European Championships.
This provides another chance to gain international experience
for those divers coming through."
Foley will be expecting better results from those athletes
who were selected to compete at this month's FINA Grand Prix
events in Canada and the U.S. where performances disappointed
the NPD.
"British Diving is in the middle of a transition at
the moment," explained Foley. "The youngsters coming
through the system are improving the difficulty of their dives
but with that comes inconsistency as they get to grips with
their new routines.
"We're also struggling with injuries. Olympic and World
medallist Leon Taylor will be the most notable absentee in
Manchester but we've got divers such as Tandi Gerrard (Leeds)
and Claire Blencowe (Sheffield) who are carrying problems
and Nicholas Robinson-Baker (Bagiu, London) has just undergone
surgery to a shoulder.
"Recent outings have seen some real class dives from
our athletes but then they make a mistake on their next round.
It's not good enough and won't give them a score needed to
step up a level.
"They now have a chance to put this right and I expect
improvements and a consistent level of performance. Achieving
these is a starting point but we need to carry that level
of performance to the international arena."
Britain's other Olympic and World medallist Peter Waterfield
(Southampton) will be looking to show the kind of form that
saw him win a silver off the tower at the U.S. Grand Prix.
He will compete for all individual titles but Foley doesn't
want him to have it easy in pursuit of a hat-trick of titles.
"Pete (Waterfield) will be the diver to beat in all
of the men's events but I'll be looking for divers to push
him. In the women's events it's more open with a number of
athletes vying for national titles," said Foley.
"This competition is poised to throw up a few surprises
because of the interesting position British Diving is in at
the moment. We've lost people recently who carried the sport
and we need to replace them quickly. It's time for the next
generation to step forward and this weekend is the chance
to see whether they do that."
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