Active Nation’s Lindsey Fraser Cel …

Active Nation’s Lindsey Fraser is still celebrating after seeing her former protégé win a gold medal at the Olympics in Rio – securing her position as the most successful female diving coach in Great Britain.

Chris Mears, who won gold with Jack Laugher in the synchronised 3m springboard, was coached by Lindsey at Active Nation’s The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex from the age of 10 until he was 21 and then, in 2014 he relocated to Leeds to be able to train alongside Jack and ensure their success and gold in Rio.

She said: “Most of our divers are super-excited as Chris only left here in 2014 and a lot have dived with him – we are all really proud of his achievements.

 “In London 2012 he was a double Olympic finalist and this time at Rio he just concentrated on the synchro and won gold. This is the UK’s first ever gold medal in diving at an Olympic Games.”

The Diving Development Officer for Active Nation, Lindsey Fraser, was a competitor with the British Olympic Team in 1980 and 1984 and the British Team Manager and Team GB coach for the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004, she was also one of the Team GB coaches in Beijing and London.  In 2002, 2006 & 2010 she was the English Commonwealth Diving Coach.  She is a trained secondary school teacher and continued her teaching career alongside her coaching until she moved to Southampton in 1999.  She was awarded the Helen Rollason medal as the top female UK Coach of the Year in 2004.

During one interview Chris Mears raved about Lindsey’s natural coaching ability. He said:  “Lindsey’s relationship with her divers and her understanding of what will bring out the best in them is outstanding.  She always knows what to say at the right moment to make all the difference and her presence increases the chance of a best performance for me.”

Peter Waterfield, who won a silver medal at Athens 2004, was also coached by Lindsey throughout his career, along with Olympians Stacie Powell and Blake Aldridge, Commonwealth Champion for 2010, Max Brick and World Cliff Diving Champion, Gary Hunt.

Peter continues as President of the Southampton Diving Academy and coaches for the Programme, including offering  Olympic masterclass sessions for adults and families during August this year. From September the Programme will be launching “Following in Mears’ Footsteps”, a beginners’ class in diving for those inspired by Rio. For more information about Southampton’s Diving Programme please email Divingatthequays@activenation.org.uk or call 023 8072 0922.

• Posted on: Saturday, September 10th, 2016 by Bita Rezaei