The Aqua Pod - Scottish Swimming Podcast · Scottish Swimming

Episode 35: Scottish Diving and the Aqua Update

·28 min·5 clips

The first Aquapod of 2026 opens with a fresh Aqua Update. That update begins with recent news from aquatics in Scotland and the Scottish Government budget, where a 40 million uplift for sport includes 80 million to Sports Scotland for the day-to-day running of sports governing bodies and 22 million for an active healthy life fund that includes school swimming. More detail is promised on the Aquabod and on social media over the coming weeks and months. Judy Wardlaw joins as Scottish Swimming's new diving talent pathway developer, and the host uses the interview to trace her journey into diving and the shape of her new role. The conversation stays centered on progression. Judy explains that diving is taught from very basic skills and built up only when people are ready for the next step, because moving too fast can lead to injury. The host then turns toward the Scottish Diving Championships this weekend. A quiz follows, and Judy says she feels really nervous before taking it on. The first question goes back over 2,000 years. Judy guesses true, and the answer lands in 500 BC, with tomb paintings in Italy showing people diving into water. The next question reaches the Olympics. Judy picks 1996 for synchronized diving, but the answer is Sydney 2000. The quiz keeps the tone light. The host has already run similar quizzes with Ian Wright and Victoria Park, who each got three out of five. The episode then returns to the practical side of access. The Royal Commonwealth pool is described as very accessible, and the show says it is an amazing place to see the best divers in Scotland compete. The host wraps up the quiz and the interview. The episode closes with thanks to Judy for her time and a note that the weekend's diving is coming up. The final sign-off also points listeners toward the Aquabod and the show's social channels for more detail in the weeks ahead. The whole package stays grounded in Scottish aquatics, from school swimming to diving talent to the championships.

As heard by us

Scottish diving, sport funding, and a quiz spanning 500 BC to Sydney 2000.

The episode opens with the new Aqua Update before moving to Judy Wardlaw, Scottish Swimming's new diving talent pathway developer, and the build-up to the Scottish Diving Championships this weekend.

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Why you'd press play

You get Scottish diving, a sport funding update, and a quiz that starts in 500 BC.

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