With the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires at its halfway point – Team Ireland continue to impress on the world stage. Earlier in the Games, Ireland’s swimming contingent produced historic performances, to cement Ireland’s status as one of the top swimming nations globally.
On Day 7, more history was made in the water for Team Ireland as Tanya Watson became Ireland’s first ever diver to compete at this level. The Olympic Federation of Ireland have sent over a squad of 16 athletes, 11 are female athletes. These athletes are competing in various different sports including swimming, gymnastics, diving, athletics, boxing, golf and tennis.
Tanya Watson made history to become Ireland’s first ever diver to compete at this level. Watson was nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland for a place at the Youth Olympic Games after she qualified at the World Junior Championships in July. The 16 year-old is no stranger to elite-level competition as she most recently made her senior international debut at the European Championships in Glasgow, where she took home an astonishing 5th place in the Platform Final.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, Tanya Watson, based in the Southampton Diving Academy, took to the 10m Platform Prelims. The divers were given eight dives, with their four best carrying on to the final.
Watson got off to a brilliant start registering 44.65 points, the highest score in the first round of dives. After three dives, she moved to second place with an overall score of 123.85 points. With the prelims coming to an end, Watson totalled a combined score of 357 points to finish 6th and book her place in the evening’s final.
Happy with your morning dives, Tanya? That’d be a big yes ? Great start to the diving with Tanya qualifying for the finals with 6th best score in the women’s 10m platform #TeamIreland ☘️?? @swimireland pic.twitter.com/irKytKr5AB
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) October 13, 2018
Starting off as the sixth diver on the platform, Watson carried over 160.85 points from the Prelims. The Irish diver scored a brilliant 58.80 points for her first dive which moved her into fourth place. She then followed this up with 40.50 points and another stunning 58.80 points to consolidate fifth place. Overall, Watson secured a fantastic 362.45 points which capped off an amazing performance and result.
As Ireland’s first ever diver to compete at this level, this marks a sensational breakthrough campaign for the superstar diver. This year, Watson has made the Platform Finals of the Senior European Championships as well as the European Junior and World Junior Championships.
Watson will now compete in the mixed event on Wednesday.
DIVING "It was nice to improve from Preliminary to Final, because that’s what you’re hoping to do.”
Tanya Watson nailed her dives today, we asked her to talk us through them. We also took the opportunity to ask her how she got into the sport #TeamIreland https://t.co/ttRiMjcf7s pic.twitter.com/1gWbUcYu8F
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) October 13, 2018
