Josie Zillig who trains six days a week sets her sights on Junior European Championships

In Janury, Putney's diving star, Josie Zillig (Year 9) competed with senior GB divers in the British Diving Championships winning Gold in the 10m Platform synchro event. Although there were no other entries due to injury, Josie and her partner are currently proud holders of the title, British Diving 10m synchro champions!

Josie told this website: “I started out as a gymnast and was lucky enough to be talent spotted by (ex-world champion diver), Chris Snode when he came to the Junior School in Year 3. He got me started training at Crystal Palace once a week for a year.

" From Year 5 onwards I went up to training four times a week with Lin Chen, who is world champion in China, and I still train with her, six days a week, from 4:30 - 8pm on school days. I put in so much work so when I do well it’s great to feel it’s all paid off. In June we have the Junior European Championships in Finland I’m really hoping to be selected for that.”

Adding to her burgeoning medal collection, at Easter Josie competed in only her second Junior Elites (national competition) in Plymouth and claimed the Group B 3m title on the springboard and a silver in her 10m platform dive. She and her partner also won gold on the first day of the competition in the synchro event.

Head Teacher at Putney High School, where Josie studies, commented: “We are all so proud of Josie and her medal-winning achievements. It is testament to an enormous amount of dedication both in terms of the hours she puts into her training, and her hard work at Putney. We wish her every success and hope to be cheering her on in the European Championships”.


April 26, 2018