New event has Lee dreaming of Tokyo splash

Lee, 17, has been paired with 19-year-old Dive London ace Georgia Ward for a new event that will not feature at next year’s Olympics but instead debut as an official discipline five years from now. And while Lee is continuing to make progress as both an individual and men’s synchro diver –alongside fellow Leeds star James Denny – it is with Ward that Lee is currently experiencing the most success of all.

Fresh from winning silver at April’s Canada Grand Prix, the duo stepped up a level to bag silver at the top tier at the London leg of the FINA Diving World Series this month.

Lee still hopes to make his Olympic debut at Rio 2016 as both an individual and men’s synchro diver but admits the 10m platform mixed synchro event could provide the most golden opportunity of all at Tokyo.

Lee told The Yorkshire Post: “The new event definitely could be my best chance of success because in my other events in London I didn’t get a medal but in this one I did. The competition is not going to be introduced into the Rio Olympics but it’s definitely going to be introduced for 2020 so that could definitely be a big medal hope.

“It means we have got five years to keep improving.

“I don’t think there was an actual reason why were put together – but I guess we are both up- and-coming platform divers.

“We were both going to be at the Canadian Grand Prix and I think Kim White, the team leader for that event, thought ‘why not give it a try?’

“We did and we got some success in Canada and then London again so why not push it to the Olympics?

“The bosses could change their mind and maybe put me with one of the girls who is already at the world series, for example Tonia Couch or Sarah Barrow – just 
because they are already there.

“But I think me and Georgia have proved that we are good together and have already won medals.”