Cambridge Dive Team took part in the UK’s first Diving Level X Games; a new competition format created due to the Corona virus pandemic. This was designed to keep divers across the country motivated and gave athletes a chance to get back into competition after a whirlwind 12 months of no regular training regime.
Divers were given some drills and dry-run-throughs to practise at home before taking videos and sending them into swim England for judging.
Cambridge had 10 entries in the first series of the games, the second taking place later in the year. Series 1 was based on the forward and inward directions, where divers performed routines associated with the correct technique required in the pool. For CDT divers Florence Tibbatts and Kirsty Matthams this was there first ever competition, coming 15th and 29th in the girls 8-10 category respectively.
In the boys 11-13 event Cambridge had four entries. Rufus Bord just missed out on a top ten finish by two points as he took 12th place overall. Charlie Tibbatts followed close behind in 15th place with Dominic Williams also coming in the top 20 at 19th place. Ben Matthams also took part, placing 29th and all divers showcased some great technique and control.
Amelia Aldridge and Zia Gordon represented CDT in the girls 11-13 event. Aldridge placed 22nd just four points out of the top 10, and Gordon in 47th in a very touch and closely packed category.
The final event with divers from Cambridge was the girls 14-17 category. Catherine Lopez placed in 27th, only 10 points from the top 10, performing some great run-throughs while star athlete Daisy Halls took the win. Halls showcased some great control and flexibility to come away with the gold. All these fantastic results are a testament to the hard-work CDT divers continue to put in while training from home. Well done to everyone!
Series two of the dryland games take place at the start of May 2021.
