The next (female, older, fatter) Tom Daley.

When planning what sports I was going to do for my Gold Challenge I ignored diving on the list for a long time, I mean- I could never dive as a child and it's such a specialist sport I'll surely never be able to do it? I am scared of heights and cannot remember even standing on a diving board.  I remember doing my Bronze Medallian as a 15 year old and telling the teacher I will do it if I don't have to dive. So, I then saw Dan Thompson's (CEO of Gold Challenge) blog. I loved the video and thought maybe......

So, I emailed a couple of local clubs and got a really positive response from Pheonix Diving Club in Highworth near Swindon. I'll be honest, I was the most nervous about diving than anything else. Was very nervous that I just wouldn't be able to do it and end up doing some lovely belly flops! I turned up to the first session- the first hour was gymnastic based, I didn't do much of that due to my knee (even though I am due to do gymnastics next week but 3 weeks has passed since then so hoping it'll be a bit stronger now) but then the second hour we got into the pool.

In the pool I started out diving off the side of the pool- I was surprised at how easy it was to go in head first without belly flopping. I also managed a few dives off the springboard too on the first session. The second week I managed to jump off the 3 metre board!! I will need more than 3 hours of training to dive off it but I jumped and was very happy to have done that. I also passed my level 1 diving certificate- that involved back dives, pike jumps (I think that's what they're called) and other dives off the side of the pool. It was very nice to have actually acheived something. In the third week I concentrated on diving off the spring board and keeping my legs straight. I think I pretty much managed it by the end!

I LOVED diving. The club were really friendly and made me feel very welcome and I would like to thank them for the time in coaching me and also donating the training fees to the charity. Before I started I had no intention at all in diving again and went in with the attitude of 'it can be something I can say I have done but never have to do again', but a local pool in Cheltenham do an 8 week diving course in October time and I am going to go along and if I still love it after that I may even join a club.

I know I say this after every post but I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so far. The amount raised will really make a difference to Dementia UK, and there is still time to raise more. If you are able to sponsor me you can do here (and if you haven't already check out what I got from Alan (Jonathan Creek, QI) Davies, and if you ask nicely I will tell you how I managed it!!

Thanks again :-)