Grace Reid is living life by a new motto ahead of her third Olympics.

The 28-year-old from Edinburgh went through the wringer at Tokyo 2020, finishing 19th in the individual competition and sixth in the synchro.

It was a knock-back that, coupled with other mental health difficulties brought on around Covid, left Reid struggling to find her place in the world.

Now back to her best and selected to compete in the 3m springboard at Paris 2024, Reid credited coach Alex Rochas with helping her find a fresh sense of purpose.

"In the run up to Tokyo I was definitely struggling with my mental health due to the circumstances and isolation," said Reid, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing her to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support.

"Then after having a disappointing experience, I sat in the airport ready to come home and Alex came over and I think his exact words were: 'I've never seen you so broken'.

"He made a promise in his head, which he only told me about recently, that he wouldn't let me finish my career that way.

"Post-Games I was very sure I was done with the sport as I didn't enjoy it anymore but it was him, my old coach Jen [Leeming] and Dave [Jenkins] who told me to come back for fitness.

"I did that for a couple of weeks and then dipped my toe in the water and didn't hate it. When it was fun and enjoyable and I had my team around me again I realised I had more left.

"There was a piece of me that was unsatisfied with how I left Tokyo and I would have hated for that to have been the lasting memory of my career."

Alongside a support network of coaches, family and friends, Reid found that the key to getting her groove back came down to realising her worth away from diving pool.

The three-time world medallist found that by leaning into her hobbies away from sport, she was finally able to find out who she was as a person and not just as a diver.

"It was about having other things outside of the pool," she said. "That could be just spending time with friends and family, my education, reading or music.

"It's about finding things I enjoyed that had nothing to do with diving.

"If I've had a bad day at work, it doesn't mean that Grace the person can't go and have a really great Monday.

"There's no reason both those things can't be true and having something else to put my attention on helps that.

"Books-wise, I do quite like a murder mystery but I've got to be careful because my bookcase now just has 'How to kill your family' and the likes so it looks quite questionable.

"I recently read 'Lessons in Chemistry' which was great but it's anything that will grab my attention and take me somewhere else.

"Whether it's a love story or murder mystery - I'm open to anything."

With the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics just over one month away, the Games are set to inspire people and communities all across the country. Reid hopes that by sharing her story it will give others motivation to get involved in sport.

When it comes to the Team GB diving squad, Reid admitted that she doesn't need lessons in chemistry.

One look at any of the 11 Paris-bound divers' social media accounts tells the story of a group that enjoy each other's company.

Whether they're having crocheting lessons from Tom Daley or having their portrait taken by Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, Reid beleives their team of 'adrenaline junkies' are unrivalled when it comes to friendship.

"We are a small sport as diving but we've all grown up together," said Reid.

"I did my first camp with Tom and Jack when I was about six and Jack was seven, we have known each other for so long and seen how far we've come.

"We were just on a camp together for some rest and recovery and the chemistry we have as a team is just unrivalled.

"It's pretty epic and it comes down to the fact that we're all likeminded and willing to throw ourselves off a diving board.

"There's an element of adrenaline junkies who want to have fun and that's why we get on so well."

Team GB, supported by funding raised by National Lottery players, will comprise of athletes from all four nations across the UK, and having secured her place on the squad, Reid is looking to capitalise on the once in a lifetime opportunity for medal success on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

After a turbulent three years that almost saw her walk away from the sport, Reid is reading to tread the Olympic rollercoaster for a third time.

"It's quite overwhelming," added Reid.

"When I first started out in sport, I daydreamed about making one Olympics and the fact I'm now getting ready for my third is something little Grace would be very proud of.

"This one in particular feels very special. To have come back from a challenging three years and to now be diving well and loving my sport is amazing."

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