There was a kiss that crossed the world as Ripon’s diving hero Jack Laugher added to his Olympic medal haul with bronze in the men’s individual three-metre springboard event.
TV viewers this morning could hear him saying ‘love you Mum, love you Dad’ as he blew a kiss to his parents Jackie and Dave in Littlethorpe.
Mrs Laugher told the Stray Ferret:
“It was very emotional hearing that and he also Facetimed us immediately after the event.”
She added:
“The turnaround from last week’s disappointment in the synchronised competition was incredible.
“He let his diving do the talking this morning and it was neck and neck for the silver medal until his last dive.”
Jack Laugher winning the bronze medal. Photo: British Swimming
Mrs Laugher added:
“Dave and I could not be prouder. He is a fine son and a very special and inspirational person.”
In a nail-biting finish at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, the medal placings were only decided in the sixth and final round.
With just two points between them after five dives, Laugher scored 87.75 while China’s Wang Zongyuan was awarded 102 points by the judges.
However XIE Siyi’s 102.6 saw him add Olympic Gold to his world championship title, with his countryman in silver and Laugher in the bronze medal position.
Laugher, a member of the City of Leeds Swimming club, has the distinction of being the only GB diver in history to win Olympic medals in the men’s individual competition, securing his name forever in the sporting record books.
He now has the full medal set with today’s bronze adding to the gold and silver he won five years ago at the Rio 2016 games.
Laugher, who was born and bred in Littlethorpe, has proved a sporting role model to students at his former schools, Cathedral Primary and Ripon Grammar and also supports Ripon City Netball Club, where his mother is a player.
Close family friend Helen Mackenzie, who is head coach at the club, said:
“Something very special about Jack is the fact that he has never forgotten his roots.
“He is a kind, generous and thoughtful young man, who has given back so much to the local community.”
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Ripon’s Jack Laugher in Olympic diving final
Jack Laugher is bidding for further Olympic glory this morning.
A superb series of six dives took him into the men’s individual three-metre springboard final, which can be seen live on BBC TV from 7am.
The former Ripon Grammar School student, whose family home is in Littlethorpe, finished in third position behind China’s XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan in today’s semi-final.
Early-bird television viewers, who tuned in a 2am UK time, saw Laugher score 514.75 points in a stylish and controlled performance at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
It all started here – Spa Baths, Ripon where Jack Laugher was taught to swim at the age of 3 by Sylvia Grice MBE
If he can repeat the highly-disciplined display of diving excellence that he achieved in the semi-final, he has an outstanding opportunity to add to the Gold and Silver medals that saw him make history five years ago.
He and then partner Chris Mears, became the first-ever GB diving medallists, when they fought off a challenge from China to claim Olympic Gold at the Rio 2016 games.
Six days later, Laugher added Silver in the men’s individual springboard event, finishing behind China’s Yuan Cao.
The challenge from the Chinese pair of XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan, cannot be under-estimated, but it’s all to play for when the 12 finalists take to the springboard in Tokyo.
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Ripon sporting hero Jack Laugher reaches Olympic diving semi-finals
Ripon’s history-making Olympic diver Jack Laugher, has earned his place in tomorrow’s semi-final of the individual three-metre springboard event.
He finished sixth in this morning’s preliminary competition at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, with a points tally of 445.05, raising hopes that he can add to the gold and silver medals that he won at the Rio 2016 games.
This morning’s improved performance follows last week’s disappointment when Laugher – a former student of Ripon Grammar School, who was born and bred in Littlethorpe – finished seventh in the synchronised three-metre springboard final with new partner Daniel Goodwill.
In the synchronised event, Laugher and Goodwill showed mental toughness to achieve their highest points in their sixth and last dive.
With a tariff of 3.9, it is classed as the world’s most difficult dive.
Jack Laugher in action at this year’s European Aquatics Championships where he won silver Picture: British Swimming.
The hint of better to come for Laugher in the men’s individual springboard, was realised in this morning’s preliminary competition, where he competed against 28 of the world’s elite.
This morning, the 26-year-old got off to an excellent start, with his first dive of six – carrying a tariff of 3.4, giving him an early lead.
By the half way stage, with three rounds behind him, Laugher was placed 11 on 198.90 points, with the dominant Wang Zongyuan and XIE Siyi placed first and second – the ranking the China pair finished in at the end of the preliminaries.
At the Rio games, he and then partner Chis Mears became the first GB divers to win a gold Olympic medal when a world-beating performance saw them crowned champions.
This prevented China from making a clean sweep of gold in the overall diving competition.
Six days later in the Rio Aquatics Centre, City of Leeds club member Laugher – who was taught to swim at Ripon’s Spa Baths and took up diving at the Harrogate Hydro Pool – won silver in the men’s individual three-metre springboard event.
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Tomorrow, followers of Littlethorpe and Ripon’s local hero, can watch the semi-final on the BBC starting at 2am UK time. The final will be broadcast live at 7am UK time.
A total of 18 divers will take part in the semi-final and from this, 12 go on to the final.
‘I’m proud of Jack… it just wasn’t his day’, says mum Jackie LaugherThere was Olympic disappointment for Jack Laugher and his diving partner Daniel Goodfellow in Tokyo this morning as they finished out of the medals in seventh place.
Laugher, who was born and bred in the Ripon area, still has the opportunity of adding to the gold and silver medals he won in Rio when he competes in next week’s individual three-metre springboard event.
His mother Jackie, who watched with her husband, David, at their Littlethorpe home, told the Stray Ferret:
“From the start it didn’t look like it was going to be their day, but they are a relatively new team.
“I’m immensely proud of Jack, he’s a wonderful son, great sportsman and role model, but above all he’s a lovely person who will always call Littlethorpe his home.”
Jack Laugher (left) and Daniel Goodfellow making their opening dive
Family friend Helen Mackenzie, who was in Rio with Jackie to see Jack’s gold and silver medal performances in 2016, said:
“It is testimony to their determination and mental toughness that, following five below par dives, he and Daniel achieved their best score in the final one which, with a tariff of 3.9, is the world’s most difficult dive.
“This bodes well for next week, when Jack takes part in the individual event.”
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Gemma Williams, who like Jackie and Helen is a member of Ripon City Netball Club, said:
“I love and feel pride by proxy, seeing Jack and Dan compete – not the result they would want, but still an amazing achievement.”
Leanne Jalland, chair of Harrogate District Diving Club, where Jack used to train, also spoke of its pride in the pair despite today’s outcome.
Ripon’s Jack Laugher loses Olympic title in Tokyo“It was a high standard competition but unfortunately it was not their day today. That’s diving as a sport for you, anything can happen and it all comes down to the dives on the day.
“That last dive showed a glimpse of what they are capable of and we are confident that both Jack and Dan have got the strength of character to come back stronger from this.”
Ripon’s Olympic hero Jack Laugher has missed out on his bid to win a second successive gold in the synchronised three-metre springboard diving.
Laugher and partner Daniel Goodfellow finished seventh in this morning’s event, which was won by China.
The duo from the City of Leeds Club triumphed at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in May at the FINA Diving World Cup. But they were unable to replicate the same form in the same pool today.
Laugher, who grew up in the Ripon area and attended Cathedral Church of England Primary and Ripon Grammar School will now focus on the men’s individual three-metre springboard event, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday next week.
In his home village of Littlethorpe, Jack’s mother Jackie Laugher (pictured above, centre) and Sylvia Grice (left) who taught him to swim, watched in their respective front rooms, while Sylvia’s daughter Helen Mackenzie (right) who taught him at Ripon Grammar School, also tuned in at her Ripon home.
Laugher remains a Ripon hero, having become the first GB diver to win gold and silver medals at an Olympic games.
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Ripon’s Jack Laugher goes for gold at the Olympics tomorrow — but the diving boards at the Harrogate Hydro pool where he used to train have been out of use for eight months.
Laugher began his career with Harrogate District Diving Club, as did Oliver Dingley, who represents Ireland in the Olympic diving tomorrow.
The top club has seen an increase in the number of young people interested in taking up the sport since the Tokyo games began.
But the diving boards at the Hydro, which is owed by Harrogate Borough Council, have been out of action since November last year after cracks were found in the concrete supports.
It means local young divers who aspire to be the next Jack Laugher are having to make do with a mobile one-metre board or travel to another pool in West Yorkshire.
Families have expressed frustration at the apparent lack of urgency to resolve the matter.
Today Richard Cooper, the Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the Hydro, described the situation as “concerning” and called for a report to be produced within weeks.
In an article on the Community News website run by Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Cllr Cooper said:
“This is very concerning and I am hoping to see a further detailed report within the next few weeks with recommendations as to how we can move forward.
“Clearly the safety of customers is paramount and the boards cannot be opened until they are made safe.”
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- Here’s when our local athletes are competing in the Olympics
- Harrogate’s diving talent ready to represent their country at the Olympics
The Stray Ferret asked the council for an update on when the boards will be repaired.
A council spokesperson said there had been no update since its previous statement this month, which said:
Portrait of Olympic gold medallist Jack Laugher inspires Ripon students“Unfortunately, during a routine inspection of the diving board platform at The Hydro in Harrogate, cracks in the concrete were discovered.
“A further independent survey was carried out to establish the stability, integrity and durability of the diving structure.
“Results show that the diving platform should not be used until work has been carried out.
“We are exploring possible options and will have an update in due course.”
With the Tokyo games now underway, a portrait of Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher is providing inspiration to Ripon Grammar School students.
The former RGS pupil became an Olympic champion alongside partner Chris Mears at Rio 2016, when the duo made history in three-metre springboard synchronised diving.
Having become, with Mears, the first GB Olympic divers to win gold, he went on to take silver in the men’s individual three-metre springboard competition.
The painting by artist and RGS parent Fiona Scott, which features Jack holding his medals from Rio, now has pride of place at the school.
The school, along with sports fans across Great Britain, will be cheering him on as he competes in Tokyo.
An inspirational painting – artist Fiona Scott (right) with, from the left: RGS headmaster Jonathan Webb, Dan Brown and Eliza Polito
The synchronised event will be broadcast live on the BBC on Wednesday morning (7am UK time).
The individual event begins with the preliminary round at 7am UK time on August 2, with the semi-final and final respectively starting at 2am and 7am UK time, on 3 August.
Headmaster Jonathan Webb is thrilled to have the stunning oil painting of the Olympic gold medal winner hanging in school, particularly as it was installed just before the games. He said:
“Students and staff are all very excited and we’ll all be willing him on.”
Ms Scott, who arranged a sitting with Laugher at Leeds Aquatics Centre, said he was delighted to hear the painting was now on show at his old school.
Keen swimmer Darcy Harper was among the students who met the sporting hero when he returned to RGS to present prizes to pupils three years ago.
The 15-year-old, who has competed in national schools finals, said:
“I found it inspiring to hear his story and how far he’s come.”
Laugher, who left RGS in 2013, has also inspired Dan Brown, who has represented RGS in county swimming championships, athletics and tennis.
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The 14-year-old, who is aiming for a career in sport, said:
“He has shown how it’s possible to combine a professional sporting career while managing his schoolwork, which I really admire.”
Eliza Polito, a 14-year-old swimmer and runner, added:
“I think it’s so cool to know that Jack Laugher came to this school and has gone on to achieve so much.”
Artist Ms Scott’s daughter Lily Wainwright is a Year 10 boarding student, whose two older brothers also studied at RGS.
The Laugher painting was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters‘ annual exhibition in London in May last year before the exhibition was cancelled due to covid.
Frustration grows over diving board closures at Harrogate’s HydroThe parent of a diver who uses The Hydro has expressed frustration that two diving boards have been out of action for over six months, forcing members of a local club to travel to West Yorkshire to train.
Olympic divers such as Jack Laugher trained at the Harrogate Borough Council-owned pool but aspiring athletes have been unable to use the boards since November last year.
The pool, which caters for high board and springboard divers, reopened on April 12 but diving remains affected after the council found cracks in the concrete that supports the boards during a routine inspection.
Neil Blackburn told the Stray Ferret that his 11-year-old daughter is part of the Dive Harrogate club that trained twice a week at the pool pre-covid restrictions.
He said divers have been forced to train in Shipley, near Bradford, and believes there is “little appetite” to get the Hydro diving boards fixed. He estimates the cost of repairs could be a quarter of a million pounds.
Mr Blackburn said:
“The club are really good at keeping us informed and they have full backing of Swim England, but it does appear there is little appetite to get the concrete towers repaired from either the Hydro or the council any time soon.
“As always this appears to be about funding and it’s starting to become a worry that they may not bother at all. The estimate for the repair is £250k. For a club which has produced divers who are currently in Tokyo for the Olympics this seems a real shame.”
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A council spokesman said:
Harrogate diving talent ready for Olympics“Unfortunately, during a routine inspection of the diving board platform at The Hydro in Harrogate, cracks in the concrete were discovered.
“A further independent survey was carried out to establish the stability, integrity and durability of the diving structure.
“Results show that the diving platform should not be used until work has been carried out.
“We are exploring possible options and will have an update in due course.”
As the Euros finish, all eyes now turn to the Olympics in Tokyo later this month and Harrogate’s diving talent.
Jack Laugher and Oliver Dingley will be representing Team GB and Team Ireland respectively in the men’s 3m springboard and synchronised diving events.
There are also three coaches from Harrogate who will be working in Japan training other nation’s diving squads. Ady Hinchcliffe and Andy Banks coach Team Australia’s diving team.
Ady has coached eight Olympians through the events over the years. Andy is the coach who trained Tom Daley in the 2012 London Olympic when he won a bronze medal for the men’s platform event.
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- Harry Gration on Southgate and the England squad
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Damian Ball, Jack Laugher and Oliver Dingley at the Fina Diving World Cup in May.
Damian Ball will be representing Team Ireland as he coaches Oliver Dingley during the upcoming Olympics.
In 1999 Harrogate Borough Council named Damian Ball diving development officer and head coach at The Hydro in Harrogate.
Both Jack Laugher and Oliver Dingley were coached by Damian Ball back in 2010.
Leanne Jalland, chair of the Harrogate District Diving Club, said this about the Olympian’s time training in Harrogate:
“What made Harrogate special in terms of diving talent and coaching back in the days when Damian was Head Coach and Jack and Oliver were diving at the club was a combination of hardworking talented coaches and athletes with the resources to allow them to fulfill their potential.”
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic games will start on July 23.
Ripon’s Jack Laugher selected for the OlympicsRipon diver Jack Laugher has today been named in the Great Britain diving team for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Laugher, who made history at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games by becoming the first ever Olympic champion in diving for Great Britain, is one of 12 people selected.
Other leading names include Tom Daley, who hopes to win his first Olympic gold medal.
Laugher will defend his Olympic crown in the men’s 3m synchro event. He will also target a second Olympic medal in the individual 3m springboard event, after taking silver in that competition five years ago.
Laugher, who represents City of Leeds, will be joined in the synchro by Rio 2016 bronze medallist Daniel Goodfellow, with Edinburgh’s James Heatly the other pick in the 3m individual.
British Swimming described today’s squad as “phenomenally strong”.
Alexei Evangulov, British Diving performance director, said:
“This has been the longest Olympic cycle ever, however the hardest part of it was the last year – our team exceeded all my expectation in terms of coping with all the challenges we experienced during the pandemic.
“There were a lot; pool closures, isolation, quarantine, uncertainness, competitions postponements, you name it. Our divers not only managed to secure their physical and technical shape in this situation, but also significantly improved their diving quality.”
The Olympics are due to take place in Japan from July 23 to August 8.
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- Jack Laugher claims silver medal at European Aquatics Championships
- Many happy returners at Ripon City Netball Club