Jack Laugher was happy to have bounced again from a zero rating in qualifying to assert bronze in an English one-two-three within the males’s 3m springboard remaining, admitting one thing like that would have “ruined him” prior to now.
Laugher, an Olympic silver medallist on this occasion in Rio six years in the past, has been open about his struggles with anxiousness over his performances and scored zero for his first dive within the preliminary spherical on Saturday morning after the nerves set in on the board.
Dan Goodfellow took gold for England with Jordan Houlden securing silver on Saturday night time, and Laugher – who recovered to succeed in the ultimate because the Eleventh-ranked of 12 qualifiers – was delighted to affix them on the rostrum after a rocky begin to the day.
“I feel like maybe a year and a half ago before the Olympics that (zero) would have completely ruined me and sent me in a bit of a spiral,” he stated.
“I thought that maybe today would be kind of a big turnaround, a bit of a comeback story and it kind of is in a way.
“Even though there was some massive negatives, the overall experience has been extremely positive. When you have laid those seeds of doubt in your head, it can be quite hard. But I’ve been working with a psychologist and I’ve now got things in place that I can do.”
Laugher, who went to sleep after the morning session to assist him “reset”, led at midway however his fifth dive, a ahead 4 and a half somersaults tuck, noticed him rating simply 53.20 and slip off the highest.
Goodfellow nailed his fourth dive – the one with the very best diploma of issue in his routine – to attain 91.65 on that dive and 484.45 altogether.
Daniel Goodfellow claimed gold with a formidable efficiency (David Davies/PA)
(PA Wire)
Goodfellow, who was born in Cambridge however relies on the similar City of Leeds membership as Laugher, stated: “I’ve had a rough year and probably a few people have doubted me, so to come here and do this…I’m just really happy.
“To come here and win gold, I wouldn’t trade it.”
Houlden, from the City of Sheffield membership, stated he was “speechless” after his silver medal.
“I couldn’t be happier with my performance. It’s beyond belief. I couldn’t expect any more,” he stated.
“The crowd went crazy and I just fed off the crowd, it was really energetic and I loved it.”
