Peter Waterfield (From Daily Echo)

Peter Waterfield

10:28am Wednesday 20th June 2007 in Hampshire Heritage

OLYMPIC Silver medallist Peter Waterfield claimed Great Britain's first medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens together with synchronised diving partner Leon Taylor.

But it was in 2002 when he first rose to fame after becoming Commonwealth champion at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Born in North London, Peter first got a taste for the water after his dad - who can't swim himself - taught both Peter and his brothers to swim.

But after joining a swimming club Peter spent most of his time watching the divers practise at the other end of the pool.

"I thought it looked more exciting, so I tried it, then I took part in a summer camp and it went on from there," he said.

When Southampton's Quays Diving and Swimming complex was built, Peter's coach Lyndsey Fraser became the diving development manager which meant he could train full time, if he moved to Southampton.

Shortly after moving to the city and at the age of 19, he travelled to his first Olympic Games (Sydney 2000) where he finished an impressive fourth.

Peter and long-term fiancée Tania are planning to marry in August this year when their six-year-old son Lewis along with friends, family and fellow divers will join the couple for their New Forest wedding.

Next year Peter is hoping to represent Great Britain in Beijing in what will be his third Olympic Games.