A SOUTHAMPTON diver has qualified to represent her country at this years Olympic games in Tokyo.

Making a splash in qualifying for the event, Tanya Watson from Shirley will become the first Irish female diver in history to compete at the Olympics.

Having been born in Southampton, the 19-year-old is the first homegrown diver from Southampton Diving Academy (SDA) to be selected and qualifies to represent Ireland through a Derry-born grandmother.

A former pupil at Shirley Infants and Junior Schools, Watson qualified for the Olympics at the FINA Diving World Cup 2021 in Tokyo in May after securing a semi-finals spot in the 10m platform event.

She said: “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster recently, especially training in Ireland and living away from home.

“I am so pleased it all came together in the end. I am very grateful for this chance and proud to be representing Ireland.”

The diver has spent time during the pandemic at the Irish National Centre in Dublin training with fellow diver Oliver Dingley.

World-renowned diving coach and judge Lindsey Fraser from Southampton said: “It’s so exciting for everyone involved as Tanya is our first homegrown Olympian from Southampton.

“She was talent identified by the team at Southampton Diving Academy when she was just eight-years-old. I’m so delighted for her.

Fraser trains Watson in the UK, but whilst representing Ireland at the Olympics she will be coached poolside by Damian Ball.

Her father, Keith Watson said: “We knew Tanya had qualified in May, but we only heard this week that she had definitely made the Olympic squad.

“It’s an amazing achievement, we’re very proud of her and how hard she has worked and trained to get to this stage.”