Walter Hoare

Walter Hoare was both a fancy (springboard) and graceful (platform) diver. He was noted for his exhibitions at galas in the London area as a member of the Amateur Diving Association (ADA) team, which included national champion Harold Smyrk. Apart from winning a Hackney Schools diving title in 1903, Hoare’s finest moment was at Highgate Ponds in 1909 when he finished second in the Royal Life Saving Society’s National Graceful Diving Championship behind Sweden’s Olympic champion Hjalmar Johansson. Hoare had finished third behind the Swede in their heat at the London Olympics the previous year, when he also competed in the team gymnastics event as well as both diving competitions.