Voting has closed for SJA members to decide the winners of three major categories at the British Sports Awards 2024; winners will be announced live on Sky Sports News on Wednesday 20 November; Stuart Broad, Mary Earps and Manchester City’s men’s team claimed the 2023 honours; who will take the top prizes this year?
By Castor Chan
Great Britain had a fantastic group of divers this year, led by national treasure Tom Daley.
Paired with Noah Williams in the 10m men’s synchronised event, the 30-year-old captured the country’s heart as he returned to the Olympic pool for his children and knitted in the stands for his fellow athletes. Daley and Williams came away from the Paris competition with silver medals.
Earlier in the year, in February, Daley himself regarded Britain as the best they have ever been as they soared to gold in the World Championships team event in Doha.
He said: “The strength of British Diving at the moment is absolutely incredible, the depth that we have in the sport is like it’s never been.”
Daley, Andrea Spendolini-Siriex, Daniel Goodfellow, and Scarlett Mew Jensen had a blistering showing in Qatar, with Daley and Spendolini-Siriex’s sensational 10m synchro dive that made them untouchable.
19-year-old Spendolini-Siriex looked dominant on the 10m platform this year, adding a historic individual World bronze to her trophy cabinet.
The former junior world champion missed out on an individual Olympic medal for which she was a favourite in Paris, but won bronze with Lois Toulson in the synchronised event.
They joined Yasmin Harper and Mew Jensen in adding to Britain’s medal rally with two synchro bronzes for the women.
Harper and Mew Jensen have been stars ever since they paired up last year when Harper filled in for an injured Desharne Bent-Ashmeil at the Diving World Cup, where they promptly won gold.
There are high hopes for the duo at Los Angeles in 2028.
Joining them as Olympic veterans and standouts on the men’s side were Williams and Jack Laugher.
Williams is a synchro specialist – as proven by his Commonwealth titles – but he made Britain proud by taking bronze in the 10m individual event.
A podium place didn’t look possible as he just scooped up the last finals spot, but two solid final dives leapfrogged him from fifth to third.
Laugher won his fourth medal in his fourth Games alongside debutant Anthony Harding in the 3m synchro springboard.
Laugher has been one of Great Britain’s most consistent divers, with three 2022 Commonwealth medals to his name.
An emotional interview from Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix after she finished sixth in the women's 10m platform final ❤#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/GzCZmcWcHq
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 6, 2024
Away from the pool, they have also inspired others with their acknowledgement of LGBTQ+ rights and mental health issues.
Spendolini-Siriex celebrated her journey to being alive and happy at the Games, and Williams cited his struggle with depression and grief after the passing of his coach Dave Jenkins in 2021.
Beyond his glittering career, Daley has been outspoken about queer sporting visibility and there are few who are such an unrelenting representative of their community.
The GB diving team are truly world-class in both talent and character, and there is no doubt they are deserving of every ounce of success that comes their way.
Sports journalist Castor Chan is a member of the SJA Academy – find out more about membership here.
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