Kyle Kothari ready to prove the diving doubters wrong at World Championships

Diver Kyle Kothari came so close to giving up his Olympic dream but, ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in Japan, he is proving his doubters wrong. The 2022 Commonwealth synchro silver medallist has overcome three devastating injuries since 2015, including two separate Achilles ruptures that stifled his prospects of making Rio and Tokyo. Ad He heads to Fukuoka, Japan this month to make his World Championships debut where he can secure a Paris 2024 quota place in the individual 10m platform event.

DivingOlympic gap year begins for diving star Spendolini-Sirieix3 HOURS AGO The 25-year-old took some time away from the sport in 2021 after his second Achilles rupture to start a career in finance. Following a break, the London Aquatics Centre athlete has returned to diving with a vengeance but never believed he would make it back to the top. «At that point in 2021 with my injury, I thought diving was done for me,» he said.

«I don't know anyone else who has gone through two ruptured Achilles and still stuck at it. »I knew that if I could stay fit, I had a good shot but a lot of people around me were telling me that it's not worth it and that I should move on — I don't think I really believed it either. «My coach at the time Dave Jenkins and my dad said to just try it, if it didn't work, at least I could say I gave it everything.

»I've been injury free this year and I'm excited to see where I'm able to take it now and see what can happen if I stay fit. «There's no room for error in the lead up to next year. Even if I qualify for the Olympic spot, I can't afford to mess it up because it's not got my name on it so it's a lot of pressure.» As well as claiming Commonwealth silver alongside Lois Toulson, Kothari emerged from