Leon Taylor

Leon Taylor (born 2 November 1977) is a British former competitive diver.

He was hyperactive as a child and his parents were advised to channel his energies and enthusiasm into sport. He was a swimmer and gymnast from the age of two and only took up competitive diving when he was eight. By the age of 11 he was a national champion.

In the diving events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, he won the Silver medal in the men's synchronised 10 metre platform, with partner Peter Waterfield. It was Britain's first Olympic diving medal since Brian Phelps in 1960. He had come fourth in the same competition in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Other achievements include silver in the men's 10m platform at the 2002 Commonwealth Games (he had won Bronze in 1998), and bronze in the 10m synchro at the 1999 European LC Championships. He trains in the Ponds Forge swimming complex in Sheffield.

Although he had been planning to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics, he announced his retirement from competition in May, following a number of injuries. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/diving/7423913.stm |title= Diver Taylor announces retirement |accessmonthday=May 29 |accessyear=2008 |last=Cheese |first=Caroline |date=29 May 2008 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC ] Whilst acting as expert summariser for the BBC, alongside Bob Ballard, Leon revealed that one of the featured dives executed, thought to be the world's most difficult, was actually one he devised himself in 1998.

He now works as a TV presenter, a mentor to members of the British team, an athlete ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics and as a speaker for corporate and other audiences. [cite web |url=http://www.leontaylor.co.uk/v3/html/about.htm |title= About Leon. |accessmonthday=September 5 |accessyear=2008 |last= |first= |date= |work= |publisher=]

References

External links

* [http://www.leontaylor.co.uk Official website]