Here's one diving delight who will certainly brighten Britiain's Olympic scene in more ways than one.
Splash hit - Southend Swim Club diver Tracey Richardson is heading for the Athens Olympics Picture: ROB BROWNE
For 22-year-old Tracey Richardson, a member of Bill Clark's top-quality diving section at Southend Swimming Club, has been confirmed as a member of the team for the Athen Games later in the summer.
Tracey, who, lives in Hornchurch, finally sealed her selection for Greece with a great result at the Canadian Grand Prix.
She'd already secured Britain a place in the women's three-metre springboard event with her performance at the World Championships in Barcelona earlier in the year.
On that occasion she narrowly missed the qualifying score, set by the British Olympic Association and had to use one of the Grand Prix International circuit events to clinch her points.
It was a nerve-tingling date in Canada, with a ticket to Athens resting on the result.
But, rising to the occasion when it really mattered, Tracey proved that all her years of training, hard work in the pool and gym, and dedication had made her a really tough competitor.
A series of consistently good dives, plus an improved reverse one/one-and-a-half somersaults with two half twists, saw her through.
Tracey, who currently trains and studies at South Carolina University joined Southend diving coach Bill Clark for a celebratory re-union at the Warrior Square pool where she started out.
Published Thursday May 27, 2004
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