Diver Karen Smith put recent illness firmly behind her as she claimed silver in the first leg of the GB team's World Grand Prix circuit tour.

Karen Smith -- silver success Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL 8CF4V2C

The Southend Swimming Club member partnered Edinburgh's Monique McCarroll in the 10m-highboard synchro event in Rostock, Germany.

And their performance earned them second place behind the strong German pairing of Anke Piper and Christin Steuer.

Karen is just coming back to full fitness and added to her silver with a 14th out of 25 in the individual 10m event -- the second highest place of the four GB competitors contesting the event.

"The 10m event seems to get tougher each year," said Karen. "The divers are all learning new dives and are reaching higher levels of

performance."

Karen is working on new dives herself but used ones with a lower tariff of difficulty at Rostock.

"At this level of competition the timing of introducing new dives is critical, because initially they are less consistent, but we still have to make qualifying scores," she added.

"I have to take the longer term view of what I need to be doing for the next Olympics (in Athens in 2004)."

Karen has been selected to compete in both 10m disciplines at the next grand prix leg in Madrid.

Published Wednesday, March 20, 2002