JACK LAUGHER helped secure Britain’s first guaranteed diving spot at next year’s Olympics as he teamed up with Chris Mears to win a bronze medal in the 3m synchro at the World Diving Championships in Russia this afternoon.

Laugher, who is from Ripon, dived with Mears to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal last summer, and the pair were in superb form again in the Russian city of Kazan as they claimed Britain’s first ever 3m synchro medal at a World Championships.

They scored 445.20 to finish in third position – a result that guarantees Britain a place in the Olympic 3m synchro competition in Rio – with Chinese favourites Cao Yuan and Qin Kai winning gold and Russian duo Ilya Zakharov and Evgeny Kuzentsov finishing in second.

“It was a brilliant performance, and there were some absolutely amazing dives from both of us,” said Laugher, who will return to action in the individual 3m springboard event tomorrow. “It’s a really special feeling, and to have my best mate standing next to me as well is what makes it even sweeter.

“We couldn’t be happier and to get the Rio spot is a huge weight off our shoulders now. We won a silver at the London leg of the World Series, and now we’ve won bronze at the World Championships – that’s huge for us, and we’re very excited for next year.”

Mears had been struggling with a back injury in the build up to the World Championships, but was always confident he would be fit enough to do himself justice alongside his training partner and room-mate.

“My preparation coming into the event wasn’t what I wanted it to be with my back,” he said. “It still hurts a little bit right now – it’s a bit temperamental, but I’m still able to do my dives. I think it just proves that if you’re in the right mindset, you can achieve anything.”

Having qualified from the morning prelims, the British duo produced one of their best ever displays in the final, with their four high-tariff optional dives proving especially successful.

A superb fourth dive – an inward three-and-a-half somersaults with tuck that scored 86.70 – briefly elevated them to second position, and while they were leapfrogged by the Russians in the final two dives, their podium finish underlines their status as genuine medal contenders at next year’s Olympics.