South African Divers Hit Form Ahead of Commonwealth Games

While 29 South African swimmers posted qualifying times for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the country’s top divers were also doing their stuff.

Four divers have met Swimming South Africa and the technical diving committee’s section criteria agreed upon with national sports umbrella body SASCOC… although eligibility is not an open and shut guarantee of selection.

The quartet of successful divers – all based in the United States – competed over four different events: the 3-metre synchronised event, the one, three and 10-metre individual events.

Micaela Bouter and Nicole Gillis both qualified three times (3m synchronised and one and three-metre events). Rio Olympian Julia Vincent also qualified in the 1m and 3m disciplines.

The fourth qualification came in the daunting 10m event in the form of Jaime Gundry.

South African diving will hopefully make a long overdue return to the Commonwealth Games.

The last time the rainbow nation had representation at the ‘Friendly Games’ was also in Australia, 11 years ago.

Bouter stayed on in Africa to get some down time before the resumption of training and competition. She told Team SA from neighbouring Mozambique: ‘Coming away with a first place in the 3m competition was so exciting and encouraging for me because I have been working on getting and perfecting new, harder dives this whole year and this was a good end to all that work!’

It’s going to be a busy time for 22-year-old Bouter on her return to the University of Houston.

‘I’ll be competing for my university right up until we hopefully head out for Commonwealth Games…’

The four young qualifiers have now been representing South Africa at senior International events since the FINA World Championships in Barcelona in 2013.

Pictures courtesy of Dominique Philippopoulos