Noah Williams was inches away from denying himself a place at Paris 2024 – not through lack of ability or drive, but because of grief.
The diving highflyer from Hackney made his Olympic debut in Tokyo, two years after qualifying a 10m platform spot.
Williams placed 27th in Japan, missing out on a semi-final attempt. He sent a message to his followers on Instagram which read: “Thank you for all the support, I’m sorry I couldn’t do you proud x”.
But it was in the months following, among a mist of self-reflection and refocus, that the 23-year-old’s life turned upside down as Dave Jenkins, a well-loved coach behind much of British diving’s success, passed away in October 2021.
“A lot of this (Olympic) cycle is done in his memory,” Williams said. “I wanted to quit after he passed.
“It’s hard when someone passes who is your main motivator, he was training me for events.
“I really didn’t enjoy diving after that. It still would’ve been completely different if he just quit, diving would be different, but because he did pass away, it was a lot to process.
“It was the first time in my life that I’d had anything like that to deal with.”
Jenkins was a mentor and, most crucially, a friend to Williams, who had been his coach’s protégé since the age of 16 at London Aquatics Centre.
But following months of heartache, as Williams found himself in one of his darkest places to date, a switch flicked and he was all of a sudden embarking on a second Olympic quest.
With Olympic rings tattooed on his forearm in Jenkins’ memory, Williams’ medal mission became much deeper.
“I stuck through it and I ended up thinking the opposite, that I couldn’t quit because I wanted to do something in his memory,” he said.
“I didn’t know what else to do apart from dive.
“I couldn’t leave it on Tokyo so hopefully I can do well in Paris for him.”
They've done it.
— Team GB (@TeamGB) February 8, 2024
WORLD SILVER for @TomDaley1994 and Noah Williams!@Paris2024 awaits 🙌🥈pic.twitter.com/fPyMoJXia5
Williams is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – this is vital for their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.
He has been selected alongside Team GB mainstay Tom Daley, approaching his fifth Games, in the men’s 10m synchro event for Paris 2024.
The duo are one of four formidable pairs who are among the first eight to be selected for Team GB’s diving squad after they punched a quota spot with World Aquatic Championships silver in Doha earlier this year.
Their first international competition as a pair and Daley’s first 10m synchro in more than two years was just the start of the promising duo’s journey as Daley goes for a golden title defence in France having triumphed alongside Matty Lee in Tokyo.
“I don’t think people realise how good Tom is,” Williams said. “There is no one else in the world who could have two years out and then come back and be a world medallist and world champion in the team event.
“He’s insanely hard-working and talented, he’s miles above everyone else.”
“Anything can happen on the day and we’ve done really well this year so I hope I can help him out.”
Williams has come a long way from his primary school days of stumbling upon the sport by picking up a flyer for Crystal Palace Diving Club.
Not one for the limelight, Williams is revelling in pairing up with Daley, who he hopes will absorb any pressure by the time Paris 2024 rolls around.
It is a lesson learned from Tokyo 2020, when Daley and Williams competed in the same individual event. A more mature Williams may just be coming of age upon his second Olympic shot.
“Individually it’s quite lonely, synchro is the closest we can get to a team sport and it’s a lot more enjoyable, sharing the whole event with someone,” he said.
“You get to share the pressure, it doesn’t feel as daunting, especially when it’s Tom. I get to just be there so I like it so far.
“Tom is a massive name and the pressure is on him – that’s good for me and how I compete.
“At that first Olympics, I had to wait until the last day to compete so it was literally just me and Tom.
“I knew he was going to do really well and I put a lot of expectation on myself and it didn’t work. I’ve learned a lot from it and I’ve come back stronger.”
Inking an Olympic tattoo may be a commonplace tradition for athletes who have the honour of competing on the hallowed stage.
But when Noah Williams looks at his arm before he takes the 10m plunge in Paris with Daley by his side, those iconic rings will pay a uniquely profound tribute to the inspirational coach who got him there.
Sportsbeat 2024