Monique McCarroll is a relative newcomer to the world of diving having only started in the sport at the age of 17, but less than ten years later she is one of Great Britain’s genuine medal hopes for the Beijing Olympics this summer.

South African-born McCarroll, who represents Scotland by virtue of her Scottish father, is set to represent Great Britain in the 10m synchro event in Beijing with partner Sarah Barrow, following a year that has seen her career blossom.

“Six months ago things took a big turn and we’ve had some fantastic results and we’ve just continued on that path and hopefully we can keep that momentum through to Beijing and win a medal,” said the 26–year-old who, along with Barrow, booked her place in Beijing with a seventh place at the recent World Cup.

“For a long time we put so much groundwork in behind the scenes where no-one saw. When things were against us we kept working and working. When all the odds were against us we got our heads down and continued and I think it took one good result for us to believe in ourselves. And with all the good work that we had put in everything’s just come together.”

Diving has been much in the news recently thanks to the exploits of teenage diving prodigy Tom Daley and McCarroll says that the whole team is feeling the positive energy created by recent strong British performances.

“The whole British team is at such a strong point at the moment,” she explained. “Going into Athens we had a much older team who had been around for years and a lot of them retired after 2004. Now all of the youngsters have come through and at the moment and it’s going from strength to strength.

“I think we’re such a great team because we get on really well, everyone works well together, and there’s so much depth in talent that everyone’s hard work is paying off now.”

Until recently McCarroll had been based in Edinburgh but made the decision to move south to join the Southampton Diving Academy, home to Daly and several other members of the British team.

“One of the reasons why I had to move was the facilities. The dry land area in Southampton is much better than the one in Edinburgh. Also they don’t have bubbles in Edinburgh which is a great advantage to have when you’re learning new dives.

“There are also a lot more divers of my level here. At the World Championships there were five members of Southampton Diving Academy on the British team which shows you the strength of the club.”

The Scot, who along with Barrow just missed out on a medal at last month's European Championships finishing fourth, is excited about her first Olympic Games.

“We went to Beijing in February for the World Championship and the facilities and the stadium is just amazing. The diving and swimming arena seats 17000 people so there’s going to be an immense crowd and atmosphere. I can’t wait to get back there. I’m so excited.”

Between now and then she and Barrow will spend much of their time on the road competing at Grand Prix and World Series events, as well as officially booking their place in the British team at the national trials six weeks before travelling to China.

The training schedule is punishing but McCarroll has been helped by her background in competitive gymnastics prior to her move into diving.

“Most days I start at around eight or nine o’clock and finish around four with a lunch break in the middle. We usually have about two hours in the pool, then about three of hours of weights or stretching or pilates and then physio on top of that.

“At the moment we’ve got a good system in place where Sarah comes here once a week (from Plymouth) and then I go there once a week. Obviously for synchro your individual dives have to be very good as well.

“There’s a lot of gymnasts who make the transition between diving and gymnastics but there are a lot of gymnasts who can’t get the grasp of the fact that you’ve got to land head first!

“Because gymnastics is quite an artistic sport and diving’s quite similar to that it was a good transition for me really.”

AW
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Monique is supported by the Scottish Institute of Sport.  View her profile by clicking here.