Hollywood star Jason Statham’s ‘sore’ history with trying to compete in diving at Olympics
Hollywood actor Jason Statham was once a budding diver and was even part of Team GB before he turned his attention to acting and became the star we know today.
Action movie star Jason Statham has a "sore" history with the Olympic Games. Before he became a fixture on the big screen, Statham was honing his skills as a competitive diver, with aspirations of Olympic glory.
At 22, he represented England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. Statham showcased his athletic prowess in the 1m springboard, 3m springboard and 10m platform, but fell short of medal-winning performances.
His best result was an eighth-place finish in the 1m springboard, while he placed 11th in the other disciplines. Back then, Statham sported a full head of dark hair and a muscular build, a far cry from the rugged, bald look that has become his trademark in films.
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Discovery+ is the new home of the Olympics. The streamer is set to broadcast 3,800 hours of sport live from Paris.
Sports fans can get Discovery+ for £3.99 a month until the end of 2024 via Amazon Prime's video channels. This also comes with an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial.
Reflecting on his diving career, Statham once shared with Katie Couric how a family holiday in Florida sparked his interest in the sport after witnessing a high diver's daily feats, reports the Mirror.
He recounted to the American journalist: "I was on holiday in Florida with my mum and dad and there was a guy who used to do a high dive at noon every day from one of the hotels we stayed in. And I say 'When we get home, I am going to do that'.
"I joined the club then, I was like 11 or 12 years old. Within a year, I was part of the British team and it gained momentum and I spent the next 10 years doing that."
Statham's attempts to make the 1988 and 1992 Olympics ultimately fell short, as he narrowly missed out on securing a spot on the highly competitive teams. Speaking at a film premiere in 2016, he recalled: "It's a bit of a sore point I never got to the Olympics.
"I started too late. It probably wasn't my thing. I should have done a different sport."
Although Statham has stepped back from competitive sports, his zest for high-octane activities is undiminished, with wakeboarding, jet skiing, windsurfing and rock climbing among his favourite leisure pursuits. When not in front of the camera, he is often found indulging in these adrenaline-fueled hobbies.
The silver screen tough guy has been engaged to ex-Victoria's Secret Angel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 37, since 2016. The couple have two children together, son Jack, seven, and Isabella, two.
