Team England dove into Day 7 with immediate success, as Jack Laugher took the country’s first gold of the day, as he retained his title as the men’s 1m springboard Commonwealth champion. 

Laugher’s incredible diving routines secured a victory that was never in doubt, as he pieced together a handful of difficult, yet elegantly executed dives to lead from the outset. 

After claiming gold in the same event in Glasgow, the 23-year-old was a heavy favourite to retain his title, and he backed up these claims with a superb performance, finishing with a score of 438.000, a 25.55-point deficit over second-placed James Connor of Australia. 

The gold follows the silver medal obtained in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final earlier this morning, as Alicia Blagg and Katherine Torrance snuck their way to a second-place finish on their final dive. 

Also competing in the final were Ross Haslam, who’s first four near-impeccable dives were enough for him to secure seventh, and brother Jack, who finished 10th.  

England aren’t finished on the diving board quite yet for Day 7, as Robyn Birch and Lois Toulson compete in the women’s 10m synchronised final. 

Speaking after his resounding victory, Laugher said: “Everything was really good to be fair. No drop dives, really good tops – my finishes were a little bit shaky on the water, but I think that was just nerves, trying to defend a title is difficult, the conditions out here were very difficult. 438 is a really good score, and I’m really happy with my performance overall. 

 “It’s been a really bad year so far with injuries, but to come here, my first international competition, to come away with a Commonwealth title – I’m really happy. To follow it up from my win four years ago in Glasgow is amazing, I’m obviously over the moon. I’m really upset with my injuries, but we’re working through them, physios, doctors, everyone was trying to get me in as good shape as possible so I can go out there and do stuff like that today. 

 “I had two weeks full training before coming out here. I’ve been doing bits and bobs throughout the year, I had an (ankle) operation in November – didn’t work – still got the same pain so I’ve been training through it, I’ve still got my arm pain, I’ve still got my knee pain, same as normal. I’m working through them all but I only did a back-jump two weeks before I came here, we’ve been here about a month now, I’m happy with how I’ve done, looking forward to the 3m tomorrow, just hope I stay in one piece. 

 (In the 3m) “It was heartbreak last time in Glasgow, but I got two golds and a silver, so you can’t be unhappy with that of course, but I did want those three titles. I may not be in the best shape right now for 3m, but I’m still going to go out there, use my experience, use everything I’ve done over the past years, the multiple titles I’ve won, and use all that experience to do my best tomorrow.”