PLYMOUTH’S Euan McCabe enjoyed a dream start to 2026 by winning two gold medals at the Aquatics GB Diving International in Sheffield over the weekend.
The 20-year-old won the men’s 10m platform individual title at the event, which attracted divers from around the world, and then teamed up with Aquatics London’s Ben Cutmore to win the platform synchro title.
McCabe admits his success at the 2026 opener has given him confidence going into the rest of the year.
“There’s still a bit of tweaking I can do but overall, I’m pretty happy,” said McCabe after his individual title, where he saw off the challenge of Cutmore.
McCabe won with 433.60 points, with Cutmore scoring 421.85 points and Spain’s Rodrigo Cardona claimed third with 357.80 points.
“Ben was applying the pressure and even though I try not to think about it too much it was quite fun to have that competition between us,” said McCabe.
“Going to the World Championships last summer has definitely made me want to go after it more, it’s made me more committed and I’m excited to see what happens in 2026.”
McCabe and Cutmore then teamed up to win the platform synchro title with 380.25 points, with Ukraine’s Danylo Avanesov and Marko Barsukov second and fellow Great Britain divers Robbie Wood and Jorden Fisher-Eames third.
“I think to be honest the aim was to show that we can do our dives in time together,” said Cutmore.
“We’ve done synchro before, but it’s been very on and off, so it still feels new. To come and put in a performance together after doing our dives well [in the individual] was something that we’re pleased with.”
On how the pairing managed their process in a fast-moving competition, McCabe added: “You definitely work on your adaptability to manage it. In the partnership, it’s about working together on our communication to ensure we get the best out of ourselves and each other to control the controllables and prepare the best we can.
“To get a little competition run through [at the start of this season] has been fun, and I’m excited for what happens next with this pairing.”
Amelie Underwood and Matthew Dixon also competed for Great Britain at the event in Sheffield.
Underwood finished ninth in the women’s three-metre competition, while Dixon came 10th in the men’s preliminary round of the same event.
Meanwhile, the next generation of divers are set to be on show in Plymouth this month when the annual Armada Cup takes place the Life Centre between February 14 and February 17.