This entry was posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2014at 3:13 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

Young Diver Makes It Through To Final Of First International Comp

A Southampton Diving Academy Diver travelled to Madrid to take part in her first international competition.

Gemma McArthur, who trains at The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex, travelled to the Spainish capital to represent Scotland on the 10m platform in the FINA Diving Grand Prix, coming away with an outstanding 6^th place finish. The 15-year-old is the first woman representing Scotland to ever reach the finals of the competition.

Gemma is coached by Olympic coach and Diving Development Officer for Active Nation, Lindsey Fraser.

Each year, the FINA Diving Grand Prix takes place during the February-June period in a circuit with a maximum of seven meets, where divers from around the World compete.  This was the first meet of 2014.

For Gemma it was her first International competition representing her country, competing against divers from China, Mexico, Italy, Ukraine, Scotland, Canada and Australia.

Gemma got to rub shoulders with some very experienced divers including Australia’s Melissa Wu – 2008 Olympic silver medallist, World medallist and 2010 Commonwealth Champion and  Rachel Bugg, also from Australia, who finished 4^th in the 2012 Olympic women’s 10m synchronised platform event. These 2 girls finished 3^rd and 4^th respectively ahead of Gemma and behind the 2 Chinese in the finals of the 10m platform. In addition she met and competed against Noemi Batki, from Italy, former European 10m champion, who finished 5^th in the finals.

In the preliminaries Gemma finished in 10^th place, with an outstanding back 2.5 somersaults in the pike position, earning 7’s and 7.5’s from the judges. She proceeded to the semi finals later that day, finishing 3^rd with a personal best having knocked out the Canadian and Mexican divers. She performed a good inward three and a half somersaults, scoring an average of 6.5’s from the judges, giving her a total of 60.80 for this dive. The top three divers from each semi-final then competed in the finals the following day where Gemma again dived consistently and improved her score finishing with a personal best of 269.65 in 6^th place. 

Gemma said: “I was very nervous but enjoyed the whole experience and hope to have the opportunity in the future again to attend an international meet.” 

Lindsey added: “This was a wonderful opportunity for Gemma, and, having got over her nerves in the prelims, she went on to dive with composure in the semi-finals and then again the in the finals the next morning. I was very proud of her mature approach to the event. She will have learnt an incredible amount from this event, which will stand her in good stead for the future.”