As we countdown to the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, we thought we would profile each of our team members.

We will kick off with none other than Grant Nel!

Grant Nel was born in South Africa, where his mother competed as a gymnast. 26-year-old Grant was also a successful gymnast, but took up diving when he moved as a 12-year-old with his family to Australia.

Grant’s career highlight came at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, where he won a bronze in the 3-metre springboard, although his first major competition for his adopted nation was the 2007 FINA World Championships. Grant sat out the entire 2012 year as a diver, including the London Olympics, while he recovered from shoulder surgery. Grant recently returned to Australia after spending several years attending college in Texas, and now dives at the VIS in Melbourne under VIS Coach Gong Ming.

In Glasgow Grant will compete in the 3-metre individual, the 3-metre synchro with good friend Matthew Mitcham, and possibly the 1-metre individual. Before that however, Grant has to contend with the best divers in the world at the 2014 FINA Diving World Cup in Shanghai China. Grant will be contesting the 3-metre individual.

Despite being in Australia for more than a decade, Grant admits his favourite sporting team is still the Springboks rugby team.

*Thanks to Michael Klein of the Herald Sun for the awesome pic of Grant!