Chris Mears is hoping the roar of the home crowd can spur him on as he continues to ramp up his preparations for the European Aquatics Championships in May.
Mears teamed up with diving partner Jack Laugher for the Beijing leg of the Diving World Series over the weekend – posting a score of 404.40 to finish sixth in the men’s 3m synchro event.
While the world’s elite were in Beijing over the past weekend, it is the London Aquatics Centre at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park that will play host to the European Championships from May 9-22 with the continent’s best swimmers and divers set to compete.
Mears made history at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia by winning Great Britain’s first-ever men’s 3m sycnhro bronze alongside Laugher while also claiming World Series silver in London last season.
The 23-year-old made his Olympic debut at the London Aquatics Centre in 2012 and after being named as an ambassador for the London 2016 European Championships, he insists competing on home soil will never get old.
“I am really excited about the European Championships being in London,” said Mears.
“The London 2012 Olympic Games were absolutely amazing, it was my Olympic debut and I'll never forget competing in front of so many people.
“Nothing beats competing at home in front of your friends and family and the London Aquatics Centre is a world-class venue.
“I love competing there and it will be the perfect preparation for the Olympics in Rio.”
Sportsbeat 2016