A PROMISING gymnast who had to quit because of injury is now being tipped as a future Great Britain team member in his new sport of diving.

Keen Basingstoke sportsman Tom Owens was forced to give up gymnastics last year due to an ongoing back injury - but he is already winning medals as a diver.

This week, his rapid progress drew praise from Lindsey Fraser, Great Britain diving team manager and coach.

Fraser, who is the diving development officer for Southampton and the head coach at the city's diving academy, said: "In a short time, his progress has been brilliant. His background in gymnastics has helped but he has progressed at an incredible rate.

"If he continues to progress at the same rate, he will represent Great Britain. He works so hard and he has a lack of fear, which is important when you're diving."

Earlier this month, Owens won the under-18 gold medal for both springboard and platform in the Hampshire county age group championships.

His move into a new sport followed an invitation at The Gazette Sports Awards night earlier this year to attend a training session at Southampton Diving Academy. It came from special guest Pete Waterfield, who is a world-class performance athlete based at the Academy's The Quays in Southampton.

Owens, who achieved national championship success in tumbling before further progress was cut short by injury, took up the invitation after finishing his AS-level exams at Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke. "I had to give up gymnastics because of my back, but it seems to be fine diving," said Owens.

He started a training programme in August and since September has been attending daily training sessions in Southampton.

As a student, however, he is finding the cost of driving backwards and forwards to the city in his first car very expensive.

"Financially, the petrol bill is killing me," he said.

In each of his first three diving contests, he won medals. He now plans to use next year, after he has finished his A-levels, to dive full-time with the aim of making national selection. His target is the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 and to make the Olympic Games two years later.

This weekend, the 17-year-old is competing in an invitational competition at The Quays, which will involve him making 18 different dives - six on the one-metre springboard, six on the three-metre springboard and two each at five, seven and 10 metres on the high board.

Next month's national championships may come too soon for the QMC pupil - but his rivals had better watch out in November 2004.