The A.I.M.
£2.99
The A.I.M. £2.99
Hello, Welcome!!
I’m Yona Knight-Wisdom. I am a two-time Olympic Diver (Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020) with over a decade of international competitive and domestic coaching experience in the sport. I am a graduate from Leeds Beckett University in Sport & Exercise Science, class of 2016. I have a postgraduate certificate in International Sports Management from the University of London. I am an athlete mentor and ambassador for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Finally, I am an Institute of Leadership and Management accredited coach and mentor.
Born in Leeds, England, in 1995 to a Barbadian mother and Jamaican father, I was identified as a future Olympian at the age of 9 when the City of Leeds Diving Club visited my school during their Talent Identification (TID) program.
In 2010, after going through an 18-month period of substantial growth and a consequential knee injury, combined with being in one of the most competitive age groups in British Diving history, I was unsure if diving was the sport for me, and if my Olympic dream could come true.
But then, everything changed. My coach suggested that I look into representing Barbados or Jamaica, with the goal of building enough international experience in order to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
I sought sponsorship to fund my competitive travel and accommodation expenses around the world, which I managed to find from the generous hand of Levi Roots. I then spent four years learning the harsh lessons of international sport and what it takes to excel.
In the end, whether through good luck, good timing, good preparation, or a combination, I achieved my goal of a top 18 finish at the 2016 Diving World Cup, by the skin of my teeth. 6 points to be exact. To put that into context, I accumulated 397.90 points over my 6 dives to finish 17th, ahead of the 391.70 points of the diver in 19th.
Every little detail that I worked on over those four years, from a physiological, psychological, nutritional and lifestyle perspective, contributed to those 6 points. My mindset was the key to determining whether I made it or not.
Now, many years later, I still approach diving in the same way, but with even more enjoyment! I successfully competed at a second Olympic Games in Tokyo, under much more challenging circumstances post-pandemic, and I’ve won a few international medals along the way.
Whilst I am still competitive in my sport, and hopefully will be for a good few more years, I intend to begin applying this mindset to my life away from sport. More importantly, this mindset can be learned, so if you are looking to improve your performance, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
