It seems amazing given the illustrious history of the sport in the island that competitive diving stopped in Jersey in 2005 because there were no qualified coaches available.
The earliest island diving star was George Yvon (1887-1957), who represented Britain in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics, although he was born in France. He came third in his group in the 1912 Olympics and did not make the final, which was dominated by Swedish divers, who took all three medals and comprised six of the eight finalists.
Yvon was followed by on the international stage by Dot Macready, winner of the British Empire Ladies High Diving Championships in 1934. She was a contemporary of Jean Gilbert, who won numerous international competitions and, at the age of 17, competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and reached the highboard final.
There has been further representation by Jersey divers in Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
- Diving at Havre des Pas Pool - an album of 30 old photographs
- More pictures of Havre des Pas Pool
A diver at Havre des Pas
A diver at Havre des Pas
The diving stage in 1907 before it was destroyed in a storm
Dot Macready
George Yvon diving at Havre des Pas
George Yvon
Kay Le Rossignol
Dot Macready
Jean Gilbert
St Aubin, 1905
St Aubin, 1906
Stanley Guiton diving at St Aubin in 1907
St Aubin, 1907
St Aubin, 1907
St Aubin, 1907
St Aubin, 1907
Havre des Pas
Havre des Pas
Havre des Pas
Jean Gilbert (left) with team colleagues at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Jean Gilbert's Olympics identity card
Havre des Pas 1935
1906 at St Aubin
A demonstraton dive by North American champion George Gaidzik in 1931
Connie Touzel, a champion diver in the 1920s, picture courtesy of Facebook group Jersey Temps Passe
Connie Le Caudey, nee Touzel
The Havre des Pas Pool diving stage
The old 'black diving stage' opposite the pool in front of the Fort d'Auvergne Hotel. It was removed after storm damage in the early 1960s
Diving from the 'black diving stage'
Tommy Mather and Dot Macready
L J Labey in 1906
This diver, competing in an international competition at Kenwood, USA, was described as 'Miss Trouzel, from Jersey' - almost certainly a Miss Touzel
Havre des Pas, 1930
BerlinOlympics.jpg)
.jpg)
