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Chris MEARS
Sport Diving, Swimming
NOC Great Britain   
GenderMen
Born07 Feb 1993 in Reading, ENG
Height1.73 m
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Burghfield, ENG
General Interest
Hobbies
DJing. (telegraph.co.uk, 11 Aug 2016; Twitter profile, 20 May 2018)
Injuries
He was suffering from back problems in the lead-up to the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. (yorkshirepost.co.uk, 16 Jul 2017)

He suffered ankle injuries in October 2013 that affected his training into 2014. (localberkshire.co.uk, 02 May 2014)

He had a bout of tonsillitis during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. (metro.co.uk, 22 Nov 2011)

During the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, he collapsed the morning after injuring himself during a practice dive. He was taken to hospital, where doctors were unaware of his training accident and originally thought he was suffering from meningitis. Internal bleeding caused his condition to deteriorate and surgeons removed his spleen, which they believed ruptured in the training dive. Two days later, he was discharged but suffered a relapse and was rushed back to hospital suffering from seizures. He was discharged a month later. (metro.co.uk, 22 Nov 2011; olympics.com.au, 24 Jun 2011)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
His stepmother sent him to lessons because he used to jump around the house too much.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
Russian diver Dmitri Sautin. (English Aquatics Team Media Guide, 2010)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He first tried the sport at age six when his stepmother enrolled him in courses at a diving club in Reading, England.
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Musician
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Keep going when it's tough and always listen to your coach." (swimming.org, 17 Feb 2012)
Other information
RETIREMENT
He retired from competitive diving in August 2019 to focus on a music career. "I've had a career full of amazing memories, friendships and experiences I'll always look back on and smile. I've learned lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my life. (bbc.co.uk, 06 Aug 2019)

COMPETITION BREAK
In October 2018 he announced that he was taking an indefinite break from competitive diving. "Turns out, winning the Olympics [gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro] and training six hours a day, six days a week can take its toll on your mental health. I'm taking some time away from diving to focus on music and other passion projects ahead of the next Olympic cycle." (Instagram profile, 28 Oct 2018)
Further Personal Information
Languages
English
International Debut
Year
2010
Competing for
Great Britain
Tournament
World Cup
Location
Changzhou, CHN
General Interest
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs
"I literally just think about one word - I'm a basic guy and I'll get confused otherwise! It can be different on each dive, a key word, things like 'arms' which [reminds] me about the position of my arms." (dailymail.co.uk, 11 Aug 2016)
Awards and honours
In May 2017 he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE]. (itv.com, 19 May 2017)
Milestones
He and Jack Laugher became the first British divers to win gold at the Olympic Games when they claimed victory in the 3m synchronised springboard event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (bbc.co.uk, 10 Aug 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 23 Nov 2018)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 3m Springboard Synchro  
9 2012 London, ENG 3m Springboard 439.75
5 2012 London, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 432.60
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2017 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard Synchro 418.20
15 2015 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard 422.50 
3 2015 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 445.20
Preliminary round 2013 Barcelona, ESP 3m Springboard 348.15
Preliminary round 2013 Barcelona, ESP 1m Springboard 333.30
8 2013 Barcelona, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 391.53
7 2011 Shanghai, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 403.68
Preliminary round 2011 Shanghai, CHN 3m Springboard 371.10
Preliminary round 2011 Shanghai, CHN 1m Springboard 361.20
Grand Prix
Rank Year Venue Event Result
36 2013   3m Springboard  
12 2013 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 398.70
47 2011   3m Springboard  
21 2011 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 345.25
12 2011 Penza, RUS 3m Springboard 375.05
3 2011 Penza, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 416.46
5 2010 Montreal, QC, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 357.66
27 2010 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard 249.50
12 2010 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard Synchro 258.12
19 2008 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 341.50
8 2008 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 330.06
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2018 Glasgow, SCO 3m Springboard Synchro 430.62
1 2016 London, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 456.81
Preliminary round 2014 Berlin, GER 3m Springboard 371.05
5 2014 Berlin, GER 3m Springboard Synchro 391.98
8 2012 Eindhoven, NED 3m Springboard 417.45
5 2012 Eindhoven, NED 3m Springboard Synchro 390.84
Preliminary round 2010 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard 342.40
Preliminary round 2010 Budapest, HUN 1m Springboard 267.70
5 2010 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard Synchro 398.37
World Series
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2017 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 427.98
2 2017 Guangzhou, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 450.60
2 2017 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 420.42
7 2017 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 338.04
12 2016   3m Springboard  
7 2016 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 442.35
6 2016 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 404.40
3 2016 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard Synchro 424.92
12 2016 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard 361.70
2 2016 Kazan, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 423.24
10 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard 423.10
5 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 399.21
14 2015   3m Springboard  
4 2015 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 402.12
4 2015 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard Synchro 422.40
2 2015 London, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 433.80
4 2015 Mérida, MEX 3m Springboard 454.50
5 2015 Mérida, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 412.20
4 2015 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 409.65
11 2015 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard 390.00
16 2014   3m Springboard  
4 2014 London, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 431.82
7 2014 Monterrey, MEX 3m Springboard 450.45
2 2014 Monterrey, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 423.78
10 2014 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 373.05
3 2014 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 421.71
3 2014 Windsor, ON, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 424.35
8 2013 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 421.05
6 2013 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 375.57
6 2013 Guadalajara, MEX 3m Springboard 385.50
3 2013 Guadalajara, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 422.94
7 2012   3m Springboard Synchro  
6 2012 Dubai, UAE 3m Springboard Synchro 401.28
5 2012 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 391.53
2 2012 Tijuana, MEX 3m Springboard Synchro 436.74
6 2011 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard Synchro 416.49
8 2011 Guanajuato, MEX 3m Springboard 410.95
6 2011 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 396.33