Ross Haslam has had an amazing career turnaround. Just three years ago he was on the verge of quitting the sport he had dedicated his life to and now he's qualified for his first Commonwealth Games.
But after a heart-to-heart with his coach and a change in discipline the 20-year old has a new love for diving. Even an injury hasn’t dampened his newly found passion for the springboard.
He said: “I was a platform diver up the end of 2014 but I realised it was not for me and I really thought about quitting the sport altogether.
“I had got to the point where I just hated it. I had been diving since I was six years old, and doing platform since I was 12.
“But I went to speak to my coach and he suggested I tried spring board and by the end of 2015 I had made a final.”
But over the last 12 months Sheffield-based Ross managed to secure three British titles, including the 3m Synchro with older brother Jack, the 3m and 3m Mixed. He then picked up two silvers at the British Diving Championships last month in Plymouth - one with Jack, and the other just behind his brother who took the gold.
Using this success as a springboard into international competitions Ross then made a final in Kiev at the Europeans and two at the Worlds in Budapest on the first time in each competition.
He added: “I was so happy to be able to make it into the final and then came fifth at the Europeans in 3m. I then went on to make two finals at the Worlds – in 1m and 3m.
“I had aimed to get into the semi-finals, so to make it into two finals was amazing. And on top of that
“I got a PB in the 3m springboard final of 452. I think apart from Jack Laugher and Chris Mears this puts me as the third highest scorer in British diving in this event so I’m really proud of that.
“I loved going to Kiev and Budapest this year. Budapest is one of the nicest places I’ve ever been – the competition was organised really well, the people were so friendly and welcoming and the city itself is beautiful.”
Despite the success Ross was hit with a stress response injury in his heel in mid-October which meant he had to wear an air cast and was unable to train or compete for approximately six weeks.
Now Ross has recovered he is working on a new dive: a reverse 3 ½ which he is hoping to perfect in time for the World Cup in China and Europeans in August.
“Because of the injury I have less time to prepare for Commonwealth qualification. But I knew what I had to do – just dive better than everyone else!
“I dive in a synchro pair with my brother Jack. I find it is harder in the synchro as I really don’t want to let him down. It’s really difficult for our parents too as they say unless we both so well it is hard for them to be happy after watching us. They don’t want to celebrate one of us doing really well in case the other one hasn’t!"!Ross forms part of a 13-strong team of English divers heading to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and you can follow him across our website and social media channels in the coming weeks.