Couch to learn a new dive in quest for London 2012 success

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

TONIA Couch has revealed her intentions to try add a new dive to her repertoire with a shade less than two years to go until the London 2012 Olympics.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Tonia Couch is learning a new dive in preparation for the London 2012 Olympics (Getty Images)

The 21-year-old made her Olympic debut two years ago in Beijing, finishing eighth in the individual 10m platform before repeating the trick with Stacie Powell in the 10m synchro.

Couch travelled to Rome for the World Championships a year later and again finished eighth in the individual 10m platform - bettering her performance of two years ago by one place.

The Plymouth diver will aim to build on that at the Commonwealth Games rather than the European Championships later this year - and admitted she will be looking to improve her skills after then.

"I will make a few changes between now and London and I think I am going to add a new dive and learn that but I don't think I will make too many changes," said Couch.

"I had no idea what to expect when I went to Beijing two years ago and even though I have had that experience I don't think I'll really know what to expect in London.

"I was quite pleased with how I dived at the World Championships the year after Beijing but I should have done better once I got to the final.

"And this year I have decided to miss the European Championships because I need to have a rest and the plan is to try and get to the Commonwealth Games instead."