It’s been almost three years since Alicia Blagg made her Olympic debut in London and the diver admits she can’t wait to make her return to compete in the capital next month.
It’s been almost three years since Alicia Blagg made her Olympic debut in London and the diver admits she can’t wait to make her return to compete in the capital next month.
The 18-year-old is preparing for the London leg of this season’s World Diving Series from May 1-3 and certainly heads to the Aquatics Centre in fine form.
Blagg and synchro partner Rebecca Gallantree have made a solid start to their campaign with a bronze medal at the opening event in Beijing followed by a fifth place in Dubai.
And, with the World Championships to come later this summer, and the Olympics creeping ever closer, Blagg, who competes in Kazan, Russia this weekend before returning to England, hopes the home crowd can help build some momentum for a busy year ahead.
“To be able to compete in London is really special and I don’t think I’ve been back there since the Olympics,” said Blagg, who finished seventh in the 3m synchro at London 2012.
“It’s crazy to think that it was so long ago now and scary as well because that means Rio is really close.
“It’s a pool that holds a lot of special memories because it was my first Olympics and will be the only home games I get.
“But I feel like I am in a much better place now with my diving and we are working well as a team and I think having the home crowd will be incredible in London.
“We have got some harder dives in there now and there is a lot of confidence running through the whole team.
“China are the ones to beat but I think the team has shown recently that they are beatable and we all take a lot from that.”
Performances in China and Dubai have put Blagg and Gallantree in a solid position in the overall standings.
The duo have third place in their sights and Blagg thinks the season can get better after a less than perfect start.
“I was really happy with the medal in Beijing. I tore a ligament in my thumb beforehand so preparation wasn’t exactly ideal,” she added.
“So to come away with a medal was really pleasing and Dubai was really good as well, we finished fifth but we scored well.
“Beijing was hard because I knew I wanted to dive well and meet my own expectations but the preparations weren’t there.
“But it was the best feeling to do so well and I was really happy with how we went and what we managed to achieve.
“Then to go to Dubai and dive well there is just really encouraging and sets us up well for the rest of the season.”
See the world's best divers take part in the FINA/NVC Diving World Series at the iconic London Aquatics Centre, 1-3 May. Tickets from £7 now on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/diving