Grant Nel has today announced his retirement from the sport of diving.

Grant has been a stalwart of Australian diving for over a decade, making his World Championships debut in 2007. He started diving in his native South Africa prior to emigrating to Australia in 2001.

A multiple Australian Champion in various diving events, Grant counts as one of major achievements, competing in five FINA World Championships in a row – 2007 through to 2015. However, it is fair to say that he considers his greatest diving achievement as being selected in the 2016 Olympic Team after narrowly missing the team in both 2012 and 2008.

“I am incredibly proud to call myself an Olympian – I have attended five World Championships and a further four World Cups and two Commonwealth Games and loved every moment competing for Australia. It really was a great way to conclude my diving career, in Rio, at the Olympic Games.”

Grant has won three medals across his two Commonwealth Games and had aimed to compete at a third Commonwealth Games next year on the Gold Coast but complications relating to shoulder surgery after the Olympics have ruled that out and Grant has made the tough decision to retire. “I have been diligent in my rehabilitation this year but recent scans have shown some additional areas that need further surgery so I have taken this as a sign that my diving journey was meant to end at the Olympic Games!”

Diving Australia CEO David Bell said “Grant has been a mainstay of Australian Diving for a long time and has achieved more than most would dream of. Diving Australia wishes to sincerely thank Grant for his efforts both in and out of the pool in representing Australia and in setting a standard for others to aspire to. In conjunction with our great partner at SASI, we will continue to ensure that Grant’s rehabilitation is looked after, and that we assist him in his transition away from elite sport”.

Grant would like to thank SASI and Michel Larouche in particular who has coached Grant for the last few years but also the VIS and Gong Ming who coached him on his return from College in the US. “Michel has been amazing for me and I am indebted to him for his support. I would also like to thank Ming for all his efforts. Whilst there are plenty of others that have been part of my journey, such as family and friends, there is one other diving coach I would like to thank. My time at Texas A&M with Jay Lerew helped me so much and I will be forever grateful. Finally, my wife Amanda has been my biggest supporter and I am looking forward to the life we will now start without 30 hours a week of training! "

All the best Grant!