Dive in like Tom!
Date published: 18 August 2008
MAKING a splash . . . instructor Louise Bishop with the young divers and three-year-old Jack Robinson on the starting block
Teen Olympian inspires children to take the plunge
TEENAGE diving sensation Tom Daley is currently the darling of the Beijing Olympics.
And the Tom Daley effect has inspired Oldham youngsters to make a splash at Crompton Pool where they have been learning diving.
The youngest was three-year-old Jack Robinson and Oldham Community Leisure diving instructor Louise Bishop said: “It took him about 10 minutes before he was diving, and doing really nice dives as well.
“There definitely is the Tom Daley effect, the children now really know his name.
Crompton pool does not have any spring or high boards so the three-week, summer hot sports course saw the children, aged up to around 12, work up to diving off a starting block. Some of them will now try to earn the competent starter award and may even be inspired to reach the heights of Tom who became Britain’s youngest Olympian last week at 14 years and 81 days.
The European champion finished eighth in the men’s synchronised 10m platform competition with partner Blake Alrdridge (26).
Oldham Diving Club produced Olympic diver Naomi Bishop — no relation to Louise — who went to the Barcelona games in 1992. Adult and junior diving sessions are held at Oldham pool which has one and three metre springboards, while Louise is trying to get funding for a five metre platform.
“We have a guy in his 40s who came all the way from Clitheroe to dive with us because it was his nearest pool with diving facilities.
“He did not get home until 3am because he missed his last train — and he came back!
“People think of diving as an elite sport but you do not need to be the next Tom Daley to enjoy it. You just need to give it a go.”
She believes more diving facilities are needed to help produce the Olympic and world champions of the future, adding: “We go to Manchester Aquatic Centre as a club, we have training days allocated to us. But because it is classed as a centre of excellence for water polo we can’t get as many hours as we would want.” Youngsters have also been learning to swim at Crompton Pool as part of Oldham Community Leisure’s Hot Sports programme.
