LAUGHER Jack < Back  
Sport Diving
CGA England   
Gender Men
Born 30 Jan 1995 in Harrogate, ENG
Height1.68 m
Human Interest
General Interest
Milestones In 2016 he and diving partner Chris Mears won Great Britain's first Olympic gold medal in diving when they claimed victory in the 3m synchronised springboard event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. At the same Games, he also became the first British diver to win two medals at a single Olympic Games after adding to his synchronised gold with a silver in the 3m individual springboard event. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Feb 2016; bbc.co.uk, 10 Aug 2016; theguardian.com, 17 Aug 2016)

He became the first British diver to win two medals at the same world championships when he claimed bronze in both the 3m individual and synchronised springboard events at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russian Federation. (SportsDeskOnline, 19 Feb 2019)

He became the first British diver to be crowned world junior champion when he won gold in the 3m springboard at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Tucson, AZ, United States of America. (teamgb.com, 12 Aug 2012)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs He listens to hip-hop music between dives. (fina.org, 11 May 2019)
Other information WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DISAPPOINTMENT
He was aiming for a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, after failing to finish first at the previous four editions. He was leading the first round of the 3m springboard before a low score on his final dive resulted in a third-place finish. "It [world championship gold] is the one that's always kind of got away. I feel I've let a lot of people down. I know I haven't but it really upsets me to know I could have made history. As upsetting as the last dive was, [the 2020 Olympic Games is] a more important one, I'd rather this happen now than in Tokyo." (bbc.co.uk, 12 July 2019; yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, 18 Jul 2019; harrogateadvertiser.co.uk, 22 Jul 2019)

RETIREMENT PLAN
In 2020 he said the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo had resulted in him changing his plans over when he will retire from the sport. "I was really looking forward to being able to compete at the [2020] Olympics and then take a good amount of time off, let myself rest and my body regenerate itself really. Now I guess what's going to happen is we'll be competing in 2021 then I'll take a little break and then compete at 2022 at the Commonwealth Games [in Birmingham, England]. My original aim about six years ago was going through to 2022 and maybe hang up the trunks there but I think I'd like to go through to 2024 [the Olympic Games in Paris] if I can. I'll be 29 years old [at Paris 2024]. I might not be doing all the events that I'm doing right now - I might just be doing synchronised diving or just individual - but I'd really like to continue going as long as my body and my mind are in shape." (insidethegames.biz, 06 Aug 2020)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as an athlete representative on the International Swimming Federation [FINA] Athletes' Committee. (fina.org, 03 Apr 2020)
Sport Specific Information
Training Regime He trains at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds, England.
Further Personal Information
Residence Leeds, ENG
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team City of Leeds Diving Club: England
General Interest
Hero / Idol Chinese diver He Chong. (swimming.org, 02 Feb 2014)
Awards and honours In December 2021 Harrogate Borough Council announced that Ripon Leisure Centre in England would be renamed the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre. (Harrogate Borough Council Facebook page, 14 Dec 2021)

He was named 2017, 2018 and 2019 Diver of the Year and 2018 Overall Athlete of the Year by British Swimming. (swimswam.com, 17 Nov 2018; jacklaugher.com, 07 Nov 2020; britishswimming.org, 10 Nov 2019)

In 2016 and 2018 he was named European Male Diver of the Year by the European Swimming Federation [LEN]. (bbc.co.uk, 15 Feb 2019)

He was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2017 New Year's Honours list. (swlondoner.co.uk, 06 Feb 2017)

He was named Young Sportsman of the Year at the 2013 Leeds Sports Awards in England. (yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, 14 Mar 2013)

He won the Junior Sports Achievement Award at the 2012 BBC North East Sports Awards. (jacklaugher.com, 25 Jun 2014)
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto "I believe it's because I've made so many mistakes that I've been able to achieve the successes." (olympics.com, 05 May 2020)
Hobbies Playing video games. (olympics.com, 05 May 2020)
Further Personal Information
Languages English
General Interest
Injuries A back injury prevented him from competing in the synchronised competition at the 2020 British Championships in Plymouth, England. (bbc.co.uk, 03 Mar 2020)

In December 2017 he underwent surgery on an ankle injury. He recovered just in time to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. (dailymail.co.uk, 01 Mar 2018; Sportsbeatvideo YouTube channel, 14 Apr 2018; swimming.org, 14 Apr 2020)

He suffered from an infection in early 2014 that affected his balance when diving. (ukbathrooms.com, 29 Jan 2014)

He competed with ankle and elbow injuries at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (sport.bt.com, 17 Jun 2016)

In 2009 he required surgery after breaking his arm during trampoline training. (telegraph.co.uk, 10 Jun 2012, 30 Jun 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? A lifeguard spotted him diving off the side of a pool and suggested that he take up the sport. "Sometimes you think, 'What if that lifeguard hadn't been there, what would I be doing now?' It is crazy to think how life turns on these small moments."
When and where did you begin this sport? He began diving at age seven in Harrogate, England.
International Debut
Year 2010
Competing for Great Britain
General Interest
Ambitions To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (insidethegames.biz, 06 Aug 2020)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Joe Meszaros [club]; Adam Smallwood [club, national]
General Interest
Famous relatives His partner Lois Toulson has represented Great Britain in diving and competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. (Instagram profile, 26 Sep 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 05 Jan 2022)
Further Personal Information
Family Partner Lois Toulson