Kay Cuthbert

A London Telegraph operator, Kay Cuthbert dived for Great Britain at the 1947 European Championships in Monte Carlo before she had won a British title. Attempting to win that first title, at the 1948 ASA Championships, she was blown off the diving board, and into the pool, during a 40 mph gale which resulted in the outdoor event being cancelled. Having been selected for the 1948 Olympics, Cuthbert came close to her first, elusive, British title in 1949, but finished second to Edna Child in all three women’s events (1- and 3-metre springboard, and high board).

After 1949, however, Child turned professional and it opened the door for Cuthbert to win that elusive ASA title in 1950, which she did, in the 1-metre springboard event. She also finished second, again, in the other two events. After overcoming a spinal injury, Cuthbert won her second ASA title in 1951 (high board), and added two more third placings in both springboard events. Preparing for her second Olympics in 1952, Cuthbert had an accident when she hit her head on the board during training. The injury required six stitches, and she was out of action for several weeks but, more importantly, she lost form, and never made it to the Helsinki Games.