Megan Sylvester is retiring from diving at the age of 20 and says it was a difficult decision but the right one.
Megan, from Tankersley, won five British titles as a junior, took gold in the European Junior Championships and competed in the Youth Olympics.
She was diving against adults at the age of 14 alongside synchronised partner Monique Gladding. They won the national title twice, took bronze in the senior European Championships and came sixth in the World Championships.
The duo were expected to be selected for the London Olympics in 2012 but that dream ended when Gladding hit her head on the board in a competition in Russia and retired soon after. Megan then entered senior individual diving but missed out on London then suffered major problems with her shoulder which kept her out of competitions for 18 months.
The former Kirk Balk School pupil returned to competition last year but the injury continues to plague her and she has decided to stop diving and focus instead on her teacher training.
"I sat down with my coach and told him I couldn't put my life on hold and wait until the 2020 Olympics," said Megan, who has been Young Sportsperson of the Year for both Barnsley and South Yorkshire.
"My shoulder problems are still recurring and there was no way I could make the Rio Olympics next year. I still believe I am a good diver and I have probably achieved more than most of the women diving at the top level in this country.
"Diving has been my life for more than ten years, but as I get a bit older and finish my degree, I need to move on from it. It was a tough decision to make but I feel very comfortable with it."
Megan admits she often thinks about what would have happened if Gladding had not hit her head in Russia or if she had not injured her shoulder.
But she adds: "Those things happen in elite sport. I am disappointed to have never competed in the Olympics but it wasn't to be. There have been some tough times but they have made me the person I am today.
"I have done a lot more than most people my age and I wouldn't change my experiences for the world."
Megan is currently at university in Plymouth where she will undertake her teaching training course. She then plans to return to diving on a recreational basis and become a coach.
