Thursday 14 June 2012 Hannah Starling, Lower Sixth student at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has had an amazing early birthday present with confirmation of her selection for the Team GB diving squad for this summer’s Olympics. The news, received the day before her 17th birthday, has been the result of a long and determined battle to succeed which started in June 2004 at school, when Hannah was spotted by the Talent Identification Squad. Former world champion diver Edwin Jongejans, the coach who saw Hannah’s raw talent then, has trained and inspired her ever since at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds, where she still trains 23 hours a week. Hannah put herself into contention for Team GB when she scored a lifetime best of 318.45 at the Diving World Cup in February at the Aquatics Centre on the Olympic Park, London. She cemented her place in the team with her recent performance at the British Gas Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield where her consistent score of over 300 in the final secured her Olympic place. An overjoyed Hannah said of her Olympic selection, “It feels unreal and indescribable. It is a dream come true, I’m so excited and very happy. I am really looking forward to competing in London, especially as I know that there will a home crowd behind me. The Diving World Cup at the new Olympic pool in Stratford was an amazing experience and the crowd cheered me on which felt fantastic and really helped me.” Hannah is currently in Majorca at a conditioning camp with Team GB’s diving squad, and will continue her training in Leeds. The city boasts five divers in Team GB. Hannah’s event, the Women’s 3 metre springboard will take place on Friday 3 August around 2.30pm. General Senior School Sixth Form News
