Village Voice News - Sport News - Carl makes a splash

Carl Harding-Irmer is preparing to take on the nation's best young divers. The 16-year-old has been selected to represent NSW at the National Championships in August after an impressive performance at the State Championships.

With a background in gymnastics, Carl took up diving when he started high school at Waverley College in 2003. His natural talent was recognised almost immediately, and he is considered one of the State's best diving prospects.

"I chose diving as my summer sport at school because I had done gymnastics, and when I started at Waverley I knew they had diving and thought it might be a good choice because of my gym background," Carl said.

Carl said he did not expect to pick up diving so quickly, and he did not think it would become his main sporting interest.

"I thought it would be a lot different, having to go head first into the water and go off the boards as opposed to floor, but I picked it up."

Training up to five times a week, Carl is coached by NSWIS coach Chava Sobrino. The young diver said that his main competition will come from the Victorian divers at the National Championships. Despite winning a silver medal at last year's competition Carl said he was not setting his expectations too high before the competition.

"I want to go out there and finish first but there are some very good divers from Victoria, so I am not expecting to get a place."