Petition as Tonia Couch is denied chance to dive for solo gold at London 2012
A SHOCK decision to deny Plymouth diver Tonia Couch a chance to dive for individual gold in the Olympics has been condemned as a slap in the face.
Tonia was passed over by British Diving selectors after taking silver in the British Gas Diving Championships in Sheffield at the weekend. The woman she beat into third place, Sheffield diver Monique Gladding, was controversially selected instead.
-
Tonia Couch
Tonia will have to be content with a place in the 10-metre platform synchro event with her partner Sarah Barrow.
City council leader Tudor Evans said it was a slap in the face for Tonia and for Plymouth. And his predecessor Cllr Vivien Pengelly said: "I expect she is gutted and I really do feel for her."
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Mr Evans said last night: "Tonia has been flying the flag not just for Plymouth but for Great Britain and for women's diving.
"She must be desperately disappointed. It seems unfair for the federation to have done this when she has played such a great role as an ambassador for the sport.
"If there is any chance of overturning this decision it must be done.
"Thankfully she won't miss the Olympics altogether but you have to question the selection system which almost seems to discount consistency.
"I think a slap in the face for Tonia and Plymouth is exactly what it is."
Former council leader Vivien Pengelly said: "I was shocked. She is the best woman diver in the country and I'm amazed she wasn't selected.
"She is fit and she has trained hard. We all automatically assumed that she would be in the individual competition. She deserves it."
Tonia's coach Andy Banks said last night that he would lodge an appeal against the decision.
He said: "I feel, quite strongly, that she has demonstrated over the course of this year that she is still the UK's premier platform diver – she has been since 2008."
Tonia's parents Chris and Sally Couch could not speak last night because an appeal has been lodged, but were "disappointed and upset" for their daughter.
Tonia was overlooked by a British Diving selection panel, headed by performance director Alexei Evangulov, despite beating Gladding into third place at the British Gas Diving Championships – which doubled as the Olympic qualifiers – at the weekend.
Oliver Colvile, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: "It's very disappointing when these things happen. But I don't think MPs have a good role to play in picking potential gold medallists. I wish her the very best of luck in trying to overturn this disappointing decision."
And Alison Seabeck, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: "It's very sad for her. Tonia must be very disappointed given all the hard work she has put in.
"The city will be disappointed but these decisions are ultimately for British Diving. I am sure everyone in the city will get behind her in the synchro event and I hope she wins gold."
Cllr Mike Wright, the Lord Mayor, called on British Diving to reconsider its decision.
"I believe we could lose without her. She is a talented youngster and should be given the chance to shine."
After yesterday's selection, Tonia tweeted: "Picked 4 syncro but not for individual. I dived my socks off with a PB and came 2nd, had the best year yet not been picked for 2012 #gutted."
The Herald has launched a campaign to get Tonia reinstated, sign up to our petition below.
Comments
by PL1Plym
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 3:16AM
“I like your high moral stance nigel4036 where you pick and choose which country you support! lol Just though I might point out that this article/debate is regarding DIVING not SWIMMING!”
by Bob_Wickerman
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 2:45AM
“80 athletics drug cheats were caught at the last Olys in Beijing and many more went undetected because they had cleverer corrupt doctors, so the Olys are a sickening sham nowadays anyway.
Maybe the Olys should be streamlined in future by throwing out all the athletics and cycling events and just keeping the fresh wholesome sports like diving where drugs are not used..:)”
by nigel4036
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 12:57AM
“this makes me ASHAMED TO BE BRITISH. I will be supporting Canada in these Games except in the Modern Pentathon. I will not be watching any swimming events. Yet another massive slap in the face for Plymouth.”
by Linprs
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:38PM
“Whats the point of qualifying rounds if they then ignore the results - past competition performance and select the Diver who came 3rd. Tonia's results in the European and World Championships should have secured her a place even before the past weekend, where she competed in a matter of days between individual and synchro and still beat Monique Gladding. The selection panel are just making excuses for their dicision when they say Tonia should concentrate of her synchro - the Olympic individual and synchro is a week apart and they have selected other Divers to compete in both categories. There is more to this decision than the reason given. The Olympic Committee should hold an investigation - Tonia deserves recognition for all her hard work, her proven track record and the fact she came 2nd at the weekend should put her through ahead of Monique. Good luck with the appeal Tonia!”
by jabbathebutt
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 10:42PM
“Oh ... and I forgot to mention the ones parachuted in suddenly to pretend they are "British" .”
by josephlouei
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 10:23PM
“I can NOT fined words to show how disappointed I am to hear this appalling News,
Looking forward to hear the good news of apology for the mistake made and to see our GOLDEN Plymouth Girl making Britain proud, Joseph Louei”
by jabbathebutt
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 10:21PM
“Plymouth had a council leader who was niave enough to go to south africa on our exsense in the deluded hope that we would get the next world cup... she met a young guy who is a good diver and decided that the way forward for plymouth was to open a place for swimmers and divers ...... once again... forgive me for getting to excited and drawn into the latest fad.
And guess what ? The locals at the time complained at the sale of a profitable to the city bus company and also mentioned on here she was wasting her time and money going to south africa.... did they listen ? did they f....!.”
by jabbathebutt
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 10:13PM
“Every single thing about these"olympics" makes me feel sick. From the celeb lanes in London to the running of the flame invented by goebels and hitler to people being threatened for knitting teddy bears with the olympic rings and balloons in shop windows . From people with cameras being threatened under the anti terrorism act to people who live their being told not to travel on certain days ..... forgive me for not getting to exited about the "olympics" . As far as I am concerened.... it wa between France and Britian who got them ...... France won.”
by benmn
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 9:54PM
“Well said Philofbudo
Tonia Couch has consistently been above the 3rd place diver who has been chosen, the selectors seem to think she would be better off concentrating solely on the synchronised, however Tom Daley has been selected to do both? so their argument isn't consistent. Surely the best competitors should be chosen and it seems Tonia has been overlooked for being too good in the pairs which must be so frustrating
Monique Gladding was born in South Africa and has represented them in gymnastic's, nothing against the lady but Tonia is British born and bred so with that and the basic fact that statistically she is the better diver? I do wonder if Monique's tragic accident and her excellent comeback has made this a heart decision and not one made with the selectors head.
Good luck to Tonia and all Team GB”
by nigel4036
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 7:25PM
“Yet another massive slap in the face for Plymouth. Why do the selectors hate us so much?”