LYG Diving competition at iconic London Aquatics Centre brings best out of young Londoners

Over the weekend, the London Youth Games celebrated the long-awaited return of the Diving competition at the iconic London Aquatics Centre – the first to be held since 2019. Young people from across London gathered to showcase their skills and experience a fun-filled competitive event.

The day was met with lots of excitement and enthusiasm with young people of all ages, male and female participating. The event commenced with junior athletes completing dives using various techniques from the 1m springboard, while senior athletes executed dives from the 3m springboard.

For young people, the opportunity to compete at the London Aquatics Centre – an Olympic venue known for its world-class facilities was an inspiring moment for them. London Borough of Haringey participant, Lucien said: “Diving at LYG helps with my confidence because I now know what it feels like to compete in big arenas like this one.”

The inclusion of Diving at the London Youth Games has helped launch the careers of several Olympians, who claimed medals in the sport at the Paris Olympic Games last year. The likes of Noah Williams (Hackney), Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (Lewisham) and Scarlett Mew Jensen (Tower Hamlets), all benefitted from this competition at the start of their journeys.

Their stories stand as a powerful testament to how Diving at the LYG has served as a stepping stone to higher levels of competition, while also giving them the chance to challenge themselves in a fun atmosphere.

Many participants spoke about the confidence boost they gained from this competition with Havering participant, Amy, commenting on the importance of having this event at the LYG: “It’s important because it gives young people an opportunity to discover and be introduced to diving competitions.

“I’ve been diving for a long time but I’m not very confident in competition environments. This event has given the confidence to showcase my skills and a willingness to do more competitions.”

Congratulations to the overall borough winners at the LYG Diving:

Gold: Havering

Silver: Redbridge

Bronze: Waltham Forest

Thank you to all the staff who ensured the event ran smoothly and thanks to the Borough Team Organisers and Team Managers who supported brilliantly on the day.