British diver Tom Daley has officially secured his spot on Team GB’s diving team for the upcoming Paris Olympics, marking his fifth Olympic appearance.
After taking a hiatus from the sport following his gold medal win at the previous Olympics, Daley is set to make his comeback alongside teammate Noah Williams in the 10m synchronized platform event. Their partnership resulted in a silver medal at the World Championships following Daley’s return to competition in December last year.
Reflecting on Daley’s remarkable return, Williams acknowledged his unparalleled talent, stating, “No one else in the world would take two years out and be as good as he is.”
Initially presumed to retire during his time off, Daley’s decision to return to diving was influenced by his son Robbie’s desire to witness his father compete in the Olympic Games.
The fifth for Daley
His comeback started at the British National Diving Cup last December. Earlier this year, he and Williams won the world silver, guaranteeing Great Britain’s place in the 10m synchronized event in Paris. The pair also won gold at the World Cup event in Berlin last March.
Later this month, Williams will take the flight to the States, where he will train with Daley for two weeks in order to get the two of them tuned in before the Olympic games.
On the other hand, in the women’s 10m platform synchronized event, Team GB has also confirmed world bronze medallists Lois Toulson and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, the daughter of TV presenter Fred Sirieix, while Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding will compete in the men’s 3m springboard event, which Laugher won gold in with Chris Mears in Rio in 2016.
In the women’s 3m springboard event, Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew-Jensen, who took home silver and bronze respectively at the 2023 world championships, will compete together.
Moreover, following the Aquatics GB Diving Championships, which are held in Birmingham from May 23–26, the British competitors for the individual events in Paris will soon be announced.
Tom Daley has announced his retirement from diving after winning five medals at the Olympics. The 30-year-old athlete now has medals in every colour after winning silver with Noah Williams in the men’s synchronized 10m platform in the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
Calling it a day, the athlete said: “It’s always hard when you say goodbye to your sport. Lots of things to process, but I think it’s the right time. This year felt like such a bonus and I got to compete in front of my family, my kids. I got to be flag bearer. So yeah, the bucket list ticked off on every occasion.”
He added: “I want to be with my family. I’m really excited to be able to spend some time with them and just be able to feel a bit normal for a couple of days.”
Daley’s athletic background
Daley, who made his Olympics debut in 2008 at the age of 14, won bronze in the 10m platform diving in London 2012 and Tokyo in 2021. He also won medals in the men’s synchronized 10m platform diving — the bronze in Rio 2016, the gold in Tokyo, and silver in Paris.
After his gold in the synchronized 10m platform with Matty Lee in Tokyo, he had all but retired from competition until he made the decision to fly back to Paris to compete in front of his two kids.
“It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive… But I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time. It’s the right time to call it a day,” Daley admitted.
After competing in five Games, Daley leaves the Olympics as the most awarded diver for Team GB.
As the 2024 Olympics approaches, get to know these several athletes who have performed and delivered their best in their respective sports last 2023 and now have high hopes for Team USA at this coming summer games in Paris.
Athletes showcase their skills and capabilities, 12 months prior to the Olympic year. Aside from USA’s Simone Biles who is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, here are five other American athletes who proved that they deserve the spotlight at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Track and Field – Sha’Carri Richardson
Photo: Instagram.com/itsshacarri
Richardson has secured a great performing year by winning sprint races in the Doha Diamond League event, the Miramar Invitational. She had beaten Jamaican athlete Shericka Jackson and double Olympic short sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the World’s Championships in Budapest with a record of 10.65 seconds ahead in the 100m division. She also bagged bronze in the 200m division, and her presence helped Team USA to take home gold in the 4x100m event.
Her athletic performance in 2023 indeed showed that she had moved on past the penalty that caused her to not play at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With her determined attitude to win, Richardson can run for greater achievements in the 2024 Olympics, and hopes to make a memorable Olympic debut.
Swimming – Hunter Armstrong
Photo: Instagram.com/hunterarmstrong_
Well-known as “The Magician”, Armstrong had shown surprising results in the past year. He had won gold in the non-Olympic 50-meter backstroke, and also bagged bronze in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Aquatic Championships. More so, he had competed for the gold-winning 4×100-meter medley relay squad.
Will he be able to do more of his magic tricks on the pool at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics?
3×3 Basketball – Jimmer Fredette
Photo: Instagram.com/jimmerfredette_32
When American fans hear the name Jimmer Fredette, his heroics in the NCAA tournament for Brigham Young University and his legendary time in the NBA will first come to mind. Now, it is the start of her career as a 3×3 basketball star.
Fredette is well-known as a veteran basketball player, but he is new to the 3×3 set-up. However, despite the newness of the game, it did not stop him from leading Team USA to achieve gold at the Pan American games, and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They also won silver in the World Cup.
Unfortunately, the men of Team USA did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics last 2020. It is Fredette and his teammate’s mission to win the first 3×3 medal and bring it home to their beloved country.
Gymnastics – Shilese Jones
Photo: Instagram.com/shicanfly
After the unfortunate events that had happened in Jones’ life back in 2020–not qualifying for the 2020 Olympics team and the loss of her father due to a kidney disease–she could have easily given up elite gymnastics. However, her commitment had helped her become one of the best gymnasts in the world today.
Jones was part of the U.S. team that competed at the Gymnastics World Championships, and they had won gold. She also won bronze in the all-around and bars.
This Olympics, she is more than determined to continue proving to the world that she is one of the finest gymnasts. With Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, and Gabby Douglas, Jones can be a part of the new American Dream Team.
Wrestling – Zain Retherford
Photo: Instagram.com/zaintrainusa
Retherford had an unpleasant season back in 2022, despite winning silver in the world championships. Last year, he came back stronger and took home gold in 70kg.
Having the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials at his alma mater, Penn State, the wrestler will definitely have a huge crown beaming with pride as he begins his journey to the Olympics.
Through the World Athletics Relays competition in the Bahamas, Great Britain has won four of the five relay slots available for the 2024 Olympics in Paris this summer.
The men’s and women’s 4×100-meter teams as well as the 4×400-meter men’s and women’s teams finished second in their designated categories. The women’s 4×100-meter team won their heat.
In addition to earning spots in the Olympics, the top two teams in each heat advanced to the finals of the said competition.
Asha Philip, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Bianca Williams, and Amy Hunt won the fourth heat in the women’s 4×100-meter relay, setting a new season’s best time of 42.33 seconds. They trailed the United States, who had won the opening heat, in overall speed on day one.
Great Britain – Team to watch
Hunt, one of the athletes, admitted: “That was incredible, it was my first time with these three girls…They’ve been so absolutely amazing in trusting me and mentoring me and making sure I am on it.”
“So, to get that baton and cross the line with the biggest smile on my face that was one of the most fun races I have ever done…We got here, we did our job, we executed so we’re super, super, happy,” she added.
On the other hand, the men’s team consisting of Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Richard Kilty, and Eugene Amo-Dadzie finished second, just behind France, with a season-best time of 38.36 seconds.
More so, in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, Ireland defeated Victoria Ohuruogu, Hannah Kelly, Nicole Yeargin, and Lina Nielsen in three minutes, 24.89 seconds.
The men’s 4×400-meter relay team, comprising Matthew Hudson-Smith, Toby Harries, Lee Thompson, and Lewis Davey, concluded their heat in behind Italy with a time of 3:02.10.
The mixed team consisting of Brodie Young, Ama Pipi, Charles Dobson, and Laviai Nielsen finished third, trailing behind the winners, Belgium and Ireland. If they can rank in the top two in their heat on the second day of the competition, they still have a chance to reserve a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A professional French diver had a very uncomfortable incident at the opening ceremony for a venue that will accommodate swimming, water polo, and diving at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris when he tripped while attempting a jump.
From the 10-meter board, 33 feet in the air, the mishap forced him to tumble backwards and smash his back on the board before plunging into the water at the new Olympic Aquatic Centre. Unfortunately, French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance and witnessed the event.
Jandard, who was understandably ashamed and mortified, was able to thank supporters and make jokes about the incident on French television and social media.
Jandard trips
Because of the incident, the 26-year-old diver had lower back bruises and welts from the fall, but he is still training and is not seriously hurt.
He admitted: “I fell in front of the president. I fell in front of the whole of France… I’ve broken boards before, but the board had never broken me before. Now it has.”
Life's ups and downs… Hilarious moment #French diver slips on diving board at #Olympic#POOL inauguration ceremony attended by Emmanuel #Macron. This unlucky athlete won silver in the Team Event alongside Jade Gillet at the #World Aquatics Championships in 2022. pic.twitter.com/hYpiqt4pbI
“I would have preferred this ceremony to have gone well from start to finish… There was that little hitch. If it made people smile a little, so much the better,” Jandard then added.
Jandard competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and earned silver and bronze medals for France at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. It is anticipated that he will compete for a gold medal in his native nation.
The Australian Olympic swimming team for the upcoming Paris Olympics has been confirmed. This team’s incredible talent and performance at the Games place it among the best to represent their beloved country. These athletes will definitely leave their mark on the records of Australian sports history.
According to the team’s coach, Rohan Taylor, the goal is to match or surpass Australia’s medal tally from the Tokyo Olympics. In other words, the team would need to win at least 21 medals. Moreover, there is also an unstated goal of defeating the Americans for the first time since the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne; Australia was nine medals short last Olympics and was not able to surpass the US tally.
It is said that a significant portion of the medals will need to be won by their women athletes if Team Australia is to have any hope of accomplishing such a high goal.
Meet Australia’s Olympic swimmers
Tokyo superstars Ariarne Titmus and Kaylee McKeown have only become better in the three years since the Tokyo Olympics, setting the bar high and challenging their opponents both domestically and internationally.
In the 100- and 200-metre backstroke events, McKeown continues to lead the pace. She and American Regan Smith will probably break the world record to win the gold. In the 200-metre individual medley, an event in which McKeown excels but did not place in the Tokyo Olympics, she is likewise eager to put herself to the test and finally place this year.
On the other hand, Titmus will be a formidable opponent in the 200-, 400-, and 800-metre freestyle competitions, which are predicted to be some of the most thrilling and contested of the Paris Games.
Photo: Instagram.com/Ariarne Titmus
Mollie O’Callaghan has emerged as one of Australia’s most versatile swimmers in a short amount of time, and she exudes confidence that she may still completely dominate in the Olympics. Additionally, O’Callaghan strengthens the freestyle relay teams to the extent that it becomes unfair to the others. Indeed, anything less than a gold for Australia would be shocking, especially in the 200m.
Lani Pallister will compete and fill in the void left by Cate Campbell’s failure to qualify. Emma McKeon qualified for the 100-metre butterfly in Paris.
Kyle Chalmers is still a formidable racer and a vital member of the men’s freestyle relay squads. Although the athlete’s admission that he suffers from a degenerative back problem that has persisted for a long time is concerning, his ability to bounce back from the injury and swim a qualifying time in the 100m freestyle at the Trials shows how resilient and determined he is to lead this squad.
Photo: Instagram.com/Kyle Chalmers
Elijah Winnington has a chance to win his first individual Olympic medals in the 200- and 400-metre freestyle events, while Zac Stubblety-Cook will defend his 200-metre breaststroke title in Paris, after a somewhat disappointing showing this week in Brisbane.
Three years after winning a bronze in Tokyo, Brendon Smith will compete in the 400-metre individual medley again, but he will face off against world record holder Léon Marchand in Paris.
Max Giuliani is a rising star in the freestyle world who could be a threat in the 200m event. Cameron McEvoy has been advertising his new training regimen as a means of winning an Olympic medal. Sam Short is a strong contender to follow in Australia’s long tradition of 1,500m freestyle champions, and also has a strong presence in the 400m and 800m.
With the exceptional swimming backgrounds of its competing athletes, the Australian team has a greater chance of winning and surpassing 21 medals in Paris, but nearly everything must go according to their plan. They have previously done it. Will the team be successful once again?