There was Olympic disappointment for Jack Laugher and his diving partner Daniel Goodfellow in Tokyo this morning as they finished out of the medals in seventh place.
Laugher, who was born and bred in the Ripon area, still has the opportunity of adding to the gold and silver medals he won in Rio when he competes in next week’s individual three-metre springboard event.
His mother Jackie, who watched with her husband, David, at their Littlethorpe home, told the Stray Ferret:
“From the start it didn’t look like it was going to be their day, but they are a relatively new team.
“I’m immensely proud of Jack, he’s a wonderful son, great sportsman and role model, but above all he’s a lovely person who will always call Littlethorpe his home.”
Jack Laugher (left) and Daniel Goodfellow making their opening dive
Family friend Helen Mackenzie, who was in Rio with Jackie to see Jack’s gold and silver medal performances in 2016, said:
“It is testimony to their determination and mental toughness that, following five below par dives, he and Daniel achieved their best score in the final one which, with a tariff of 3.9, is the world’s most difficult dive.
“This bodes well for next week, when Jack takes part in the individual event.”
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Gemma Williams, who like Jackie and Helen is a member of Ripon City Netball Club, said:
“I love and feel pride by proxy, seeing Jack and Dan compete – not the result they would want, but still an amazing achievement.”
Leanne Jalland, chair of Harrogate District Diving Club, where Jack used to train, also spoke of its pride in the pair despite today’s outcome.
Ripon’s Jack Laugher loses Olympic title in Tokyo“It was a high standard competition but unfortunately it was not their day today. That’s diving as a sport for you, anything can happen and it all comes down to the dives on the day.
“That last dive showed a glimpse of what they are capable of and we are confident that both Jack and Dan have got the strength of character to come back stronger from this.”
Ripon’s Olympic hero Jack Laugher has missed out on his bid to win a second successive gold in the synchronised three-metre springboard diving.
Laugher and partner Daniel Goodfellow finished seventh in this morning’s event, which was won by China.
The duo from the City of Leeds Club triumphed at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in May at the FINA Diving World Cup. But they were unable to replicate the same form in the same pool today.
Laugher, who grew up in the Ripon area and attended Cathedral Church of England Primary and Ripon Grammar School will now focus on the men’s individual three-metre springboard event, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday next week.
In his home village of Littlethorpe, Jack’s mother Jackie Laugher (pictured above, centre) and Sylvia Grice (left) who taught him to swim, watched in their respective front rooms, while Sylvia’s daughter Helen Mackenzie (right) who taught him at Ripon Grammar School, also tuned in at her Ripon home.
Laugher remains a Ripon hero, having become the first GB diver to win gold and silver medals at an Olympic games.
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With the Tokyo games now underway, a portrait of Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher is providing inspiration to Ripon Grammar School students.
The former RGS pupil became an Olympic champion alongside partner Chris Mears at Rio 2016, when the duo made history in three-metre springboard synchronised diving.
Having become, with Mears, the first GB Olympic divers to win gold, he went on to take silver in the men’s individual three-metre springboard competition.
The painting by artist and RGS parent Fiona Scott, which features Jack holding his medals from Rio, now has pride of place at the school.
The school, along with sports fans across Great Britain, will be cheering him on as he competes in Tokyo.
An inspirational painting – artist Fiona Scott (right) with, from the left: RGS headmaster Jonathan Webb, Dan Brown and Eliza Polito
The synchronised event will be broadcast live on the BBC on Wednesday morning (7am UK time).
The individual event begins with the preliminary round at 7am UK time on August 2, with the semi-final and final respectively starting at 2am and 7am UK time, on 3 August.
Headmaster Jonathan Webb is thrilled to have the stunning oil painting of the Olympic gold medal winner hanging in school, particularly as it was installed just before the games. He said:
“Students and staff are all very excited and we’ll all be willing him on.”
Ms Scott, who arranged a sitting with Laugher at Leeds Aquatics Centre, said he was delighted to hear the painting was now on show at his old school.
Keen swimmer Darcy Harper was among the students who met the sporting hero when he returned to RGS to present prizes to pupils three years ago.
The 15-year-old, who has competed in national schools finals, said:
“I found it inspiring to hear his story and how far he’s come.”
Laugher, who left RGS in 2013, has also inspired Dan Brown, who has represented RGS in county swimming championships, athletics and tennis.
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The 14-year-old, who is aiming for a career in sport, said:
“He has shown how it’s possible to combine a professional sporting career while managing his schoolwork, which I really admire.”
Eliza Polito, a 14-year-old swimmer and runner, added:
“I think it’s so cool to know that Jack Laugher came to this school and has gone on to achieve so much.”
Artist Ms Scott’s daughter Lily Wainwright is a Year 10 boarding student, whose two older brothers also studied at RGS.
The Laugher painting was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters‘ annual exhibition in London in May last year before the exhibition was cancelled due to covid.