Rebecca Gallantree is adamant that her experience of the biggest stage will stand her in good stead as she and partner Alicia Blagg look to secure Team GB an Olympic quota spot at the Diving World Cup event in Rio next month.
Gallantree and Blagg are part of the 15-strong British squad that will travel to Brazil and compete on February 19-24 for what is the last chance to secure quota places at this summer’s Olympic Games.
Four World Championship gold medallists – Tom Daley, Jack Laugher, Chris Mears and Gallantree – feature in the line-up while five divers will make their debuts at senior world level competition.
Gallantree and Blagg will be attempting to grab one of the four remaining quota spots in the women’s 3m synchro and the 31-year-old acknowledges that the pressure is ramping up.
“This is the final chance for Great Britain to qualify the Olympic quota which makes this one of our most important competitions of the year,” Gallantree, who won gold in the 3m springboard at the National Diving Cup last weekend ahead of Blagg, told British Swimming.
“Every country will be at this event aiming to secure their place in Rio for the Olympics.
“In the 3m synchro, three countries, China, Canada and Australia qualified their place by winning medals at the World Championships in Kazan and the fourth place is Brazil’s so there are only four places left and we have to make sure that we are in those places to ensure that we will have the spot during the Games.
“There will be a big field at the competition and we are prepared for that with the experience that Alicia and I have.
“We are going to be taking a couple of less intense days of training before building our dives back up and making sure they are sharp ready to be at our best in Rio next month.”
Sportsbeat 2016