Olympic medallists spearhead Worlds challenge

7 Jun 2017

Olympic medallists Jack Laugher, Chris Mears, Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow will return to the world stage as they lead a team of 12 divers for the World Championships in Budapest. 

The experienced athletes will be joined by six World Championship debutants including Olympians Grace Reid and Lois Toulson.

Laugher and Mears, who won gold at the Rio Olympic Games, will return to 3m Synchro action having won three medals on the World Series circuit in 2017. 

Laugher will also compete in the 3m Springboard as he aims to continue to show his strength in international Springboard diving.

Tom Daley & Dan Goodfellow
Dan and Tom's Olympic bronze

Olympic bronze medallists Daley and Goodfellow will team up in the 10m Synchro while Daley will return to the top board for his individual event.

Grace Reid, who made history in Rio, will be looking to compete in three events as she does the 3m Springboard, the 3m Synchro with Katherine Torrance and the Mixed 3m Synchro with Daley.

Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson return to action in the 10m Synchro after competing at their first Olympics together as a pair in Rio.

National Performance Director Alexei Evangulov said: “I believe we have selected the strongest team we have for the World Championships.


“The first World Championships of a new quadrennial is always an interesting challenge which often sees new athletes competing so it will be good for us to see who our international rivals bring out to compete. 

- Alexei Evangulov - British Diving National Performance Director

“On the back of the success in Rio we know that we need to keep building and moving forwards which is why I know our team will continue to work hard to be in the best shape they can be for Budapest.

“This year our focus is more on the mixed synchro and our best athletes are involved in these events.

Olympic Champion and silver medallist Jack Laugher is looking forward to getting back on the world stage.

“I am doing the 1m Springboard this year which I haven’t done for a few years but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Jack laugher
2017 World Series gold in Beijing

“I’m excited to get back to action at the World Championships,” Laugher said. “What happened last year at the Olympics was a dream come true and I want to be able to show that I can continue to develop in my diving."

- Jack Laugher - Olympic Champion

“I’ve had a good World Series competition in the 3m Springboard and 3m Synchro which gives me confidence going into the World Championships too.”

The team consists of:

Jack Laugher – City of Leeds

Chris Mears – City of Leeds

Ross Haslam – City of Sheffield

Grace Reid – Edinburgh Diving

Katherine Torrance – City of Leeds

Tom Daley – Dive London

Daniel Goodfellow – City of Leeds

Tonia Couch – Plymouth Diving

Lois Toulson – City of Leeds

Robyn Birch – Dive London

Matty Lee – City of Leeds

James Heatly – Edinburgh Diving