Diving for Gold
By Allison Cogger, Autumn 2009

Remember the last Olympics in China? Tom Daley the Plymouth born 14 year old who represented his country at diving? It turns out he’s not the only youngster with a bright future in diving and the other one is a bit closer to home. For Luke Kennedy, London 2012 might come a little too early but maybe representing his country at the 2016 Olympics and beyond is not too distant a dream.

Since being selected to join the City of Leeds Diving squad in June 2007 Luke has recently become the under 9’s Novice National champion held on home turf in Leeds earlier this year. Luke has also won The Shipley Novices in Bradford, the Edinburgh Thistle Trophy and Syd Boothroyd' North East Region (NER) Diving Grand Prix at Leeds where - he also won an £125 bursary for getting the highest boy's novice raw score. Luke, who lives in Austhorpe with his mum, dad and sister, Grace, trains at the John Charles Aquatic Centre in South Leeds four times a week. He was selected through the Early Olympic Diving Talent programme run by British Diving.

“My next competition is in Harrogate where I am hoping to win my 5th gold medal in a row!” Luke told us.

He attends Strawberry Fields School in Garforth and the school is carving something of a niche out when it comes to diving with two other pupils in the Leeds Diving Squad. In a strange coincidence Luke, a keen Leeds United supporter and season ticket holder, was pleased to find out that he shares his birthday with his diving hero Tom Daley and his favourite Leeds United player, Jonny Howson.

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