Rio 2016 Olympian Lois Toulson claimed her first ever European title on the second day of the European Diving Championships in Kiev. The 17-year-old Leeds-based diver secured the continental title and a gold medal in the women’s platform final, thanks to a final points total of 330.75. Toulson – who finished fifth alongside Tonia Couch in the 10m synchro at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – dominated the competition throughout all five rounds. She also saved her best for last, conjuring up a Back 2½ Somersaults 1½ Twists piked effort in the fifth which scored 72.00.
The Russian duo of Anna Chuinyshena and Iuliia Timoshinina finished second and third respectively, with Toulson 3.85 points clear of the former.
It was comfortably Toulson’s best-ever performance at the European Championships, after finishing fifth in the women’s 10m Synchro in London in 2016.
"To be honest, I did not expect this victory," she said. "But I've been training very hard recently and was able to improve my dives. "I am not totally satisfied with my dives yet. I gained a lot of experience for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest."
Britain’s other representative in the final, Robyn Birch, finished in ninth spot in the highly competitive final.
Sportsbeat 2017