Rebecca Gallantree has her sights firmly set on finally announcing herself properly among the globe’s finest divers after she and Alicia Blagg narrowly missed out on a medal on the opening day of the World Championships.
Qualifying for the 3m synchro final in sixth place, Gallantree and Blagg had to settle for the same position in a gripping medal showdown won by Chinese duo Wu Minxia and Shi Tingmao in Barcelona.
The British pairing were lying in fourth after the second, third and fourth round of dives and took to the boards for their final effort less than two points shy of third place.
However they slipped out of contention with a 56.73 with their overall total of 284.73 just 7.35 shy of Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware in third while Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape were second.
Gallantree and Blagg didn’t make the world final in Shanghai in 2011 and qualified for next year’s World Series with their performance with the former determined to step up and into the top three.
“We’re happy with the placing,” said Gallantree. “That’s the best we’ve got a world event before and it qualifies up for the World Series next year because the top six qualify for that which is great.
“We could’ve performed a little bit better I think and dived a bit better but it was just the way it went. It’s no easy thing to get a medal at a World Championships.
“They’re world-class athletes that win medals and it’s nice that we were so close. Hopefully next time we can make that next step and get there to the podium.”
Chris Mears and Jack Laugher meanwhile both failed to make the final of the 1m springboard but have their preferred events still to come in Barcelona.
Both Olympians from London 2012 last summer, Mears placed 16th overall with an effort of 333.30 while Laugher was three further adrift in 19th with 327.20.
© Sportsbeat 2013