Day 2 Recap – Brammer and Morrison Represent SA in Women’s Synchronised Springboard Final
Rhine-Ruhr, Germany – July 18, 2025
As our daily reflections from the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games continued, South Africa’s focus on Day 2 shifted to the precision and poise of the diving platform. The spotlight fell on Grace Brammer and Kerry-leigh Morrison, who represented Team South Africa in the Women’s Synchronised 3m Springboard Final—an event where timing, trust, and split-second execution make all the difference.
These two athletes were no strangers to the international stage. Having previously competed together at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, Brammer and Morrison had long established themselves as South Africa’s premier synchronised diving duo. Their bond and technical understanding, honed both in national competition and through the U.S. collegiate diving circuit—Brammer at Pennsylvania State University and Morrison at the University of Illinois at Chicago—have been key to their growth.
Delivering Composure on the Springboard
In a sport historically dominated by the Chinese, the final once again lived up to expectations. The Chinese pair of Yu Ouyang and Weiying Wang clinched gold with clinical execution, followed by the USA’s Lanie Gutch and Eliana Joyce who secured silver. Host nation Germany celebrated a podium finish as Lena Hentschel and Jette Müller earned bronze.
Brammer and Morrison, however, gave a composed and commendable performance of their own, finishing in 9th place with a combined score of 208.74—a result that reflected both their technical ability and the highly competitive field they faced.
Their campaign began on a promising note. Their opening dive, a Forward 1½ Somersault – Pike, earned them 42.60, positioning them comfortably in the top half of the standings. In the second round, their Reverse Dive – Pike brought in 36.00, and the pair maintained 6th position at that stage.
The third dive—a difficult Inward 2½ Somersault – Tuck—garnered 46.98, but despite the strong score, the competition intensified, and they slipped to 9th. From there, the South African pair found it difficult to climb the leaderboard again. Their fourth and fifth dives—Back 2½ Somersault – Tuck (38.64) and Back 1½ Somersault with 2½ Twists – Free (44.52)—rounded off their routine, confirming their final placement.
Looking Ahead: More Opportunities on the Boards
While a podium finish remained out of reach, Brammer and Morrison’s showing once again highlighted their technical consistency and chemistry—no small feat at this level of global competition.
Importantly, their campaign was far from over. Both athletes were scheduled to return to the pool in the coming days to compete individually in the Women’s 1m and 3m Springboard events—offering further chances to make their mark on the Games.
Stay with us as we continue to reflect on each day of the Games and follow our athletes’ journeys across every discipline.
For More South African Sport News: Sport South Africa Home Page
For More South African World University Games News:
Day 2 Recap – South Africa’s Épée Trio Show Resilience in Gruelling Fencing Bouts
Day 1 Recap – Tough Opening Day for South African Tennis at the World University Games
Day 1 Recap – South African Swimmers Dive into World University Games Campaign
