Three-time Olympian Grace Reid has announced her retirement from elite diving at the age of 29, closing an illustrious chapter in which she became one of Europe’s most accomplished springboard divers.
Across nearly two decades at the top of her sport, the Scottish diver built a remarkable record on the European stage, claiming two European Championship gold medals, four silvers, and three bronzes; achievements that have firmly established her among Europe’s diving greats.
Reid’s first European title came at the London 2016 European Championships, where she partnered Tom Daley to secure gold in the 3m Mixed Synchro. Two years later, in front of a home crowd at Glasgow 2018, she delivered one of the defining performances of her career, holding her nerve to win gold in the Women’s 3m Springboard. That same event also saw her add a silver medal in the mixed synchro competition.
Her success continued in Rome 2022, where she won silver in the 3m Mixed Synchro and bronze in the Team event, followed by further podium finishes at the 2023 European Diving Championships in Rzeszow, with silver in Mixed Synchro and bronze from 1m Springboard – seeing her take a total of eight European medals across an international career that spanned the best part of a decade.
She has also taken three World Championship medals across the 2017, 2022 and 2024 competitions, with one medal in each.
Reflecting on her decision to retire when speaking to Aquatics GB, Grace said: “I think the biggest thing for me is a feeling that I’m leaving on my own terms and feeling like I’ve done everything I wanted to do in the sport. I think after Paris a lot of people might have expected me to retire, but the biggest thing for me was loving my sport and feeling that I’d left no stone unturned – I achieved that this year on so many levels. Making another world championship team this summer, I just loved every second of it, but when I did my last dive in Singapore I knew that something was different. Everyone always said to me, ‘well, you’ll know when you know’ and that couldn’t be more true. I just know in my heart that it’s time for a new adventure and a new chapter.”
Looking back on her career highlights, she added: “There’re different points in my career that I’m so proud of and that I look back on really fondly – it’s hard to narrow down! I think I’ve got so much to be proud of that there’s not one thing that I’m holding on a pedestal, that’s for sure. Obviously making my first Olympic Games will always be a standout because it was something I dreamed about as a little girl, and to be able to qualify for one, let alone three, was a huge milestone. Then probably winning gold at Europeans in front of a home crowd in Edinburgh – that’s a memory I will hold on to for the rest of my days, to see my friends and family in the crowd as I had that moment and just knowing how I stepped up under pressure.”
Reid also paid tribute to the people who supported her throughout her career: “My biggest supporters have definitely been my mum and dad, they have just been so unwavering in their support through good and bad. And, you know, I’ve been so lucky to have some incredible coaches that have guided me, in and out of the pool, and all the support staff – psychology, nutrition and the physios that have held me together physically as well as mentally. I can’t thank everyone enough for every opportunity that they’ve given me to excel as much as I did.”
Known for her professionalism and passion for the sport, Grace has often dedicated time to mentoring and supporting the next generation of divers in London and Edinburgh. Reflecting on the advice she would give to her younger self, she said: “It’s a really long road and it’s a really hard one, but so is everything that’s worth having and don’t be afraid of that. With hard work, dedication and with the right people around you, there is nothing that you can’t achieve.”
Stephen Stanley for European Aquatics
