Two of Cambridge Dive Team’s alumni shone at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, inspiring the club’s up and coming talent.
Dan Goodfellow, a former member of Cambridge Dive Team, wowed the crowd in an electric atmosphere at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre by taking top position on the podium with a magnificent score of 484.45. Dan’s last dive, a forward two and a half somersaults with 3 twists clinched the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games Men’s 3metre springboard diving event. Dan was not the only Cambridge diver – Ben Cutmore took two heart-breaking 4th places, missing out on bronze in the mixed synchronised 3m event by less than 2 points. At his first Commonwealth Games, Ben can not be too disappointed – he is just 19-year-old, and in his first year as a senior, bursting onto the international scene showing that he has a great future in diving.
Both Dan and Ben learnt their skills and techniques in the Cambridge Learn to Dive Programme before moving onto the Competitive Pathway with the Cambridge Dive Team. Both stayed with the club for many years, becoming national champions before being moved by British Diving to Performance Centres. Dan, full of emotion, spoke after his event to Sharyn Bord, President of Cambridge Dive Team, saying he was blown away by the crowd support for every England competitor as they stepped on the board. He added that diving in England and Britain has never been stronger and the quality of coaching in his early years at Cambridge paved the way for his success. Dan has once again inspired the young divers in Cambridge, some of whom were there watching him in action.
Alice Clarke, the Club Head Coach who dived with Dan during his early years said “Dan and Ben are inspirational. We run a very successful Learn to Dive Programme to teach the basic skills. The competitive club is small, but the teaching and coaching is top class and provides the basis for any talented diver to fulfil their ambitions”.
Every seat at the Aquatics Centre was filled for every diving event demonstrating the emphatic interest in the sport. The noise from the informed excited fans was deafening and the atmosphere amazing. The England team won a total of 15 medals including 6 golds, their best Commonwealth Games performance.
