Helen and Carol Galashan have balanced their studies in BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science with competing in synchronised diving at the highest level.

The 21-year-old twins have tasted success in the pool since their talent transfer from gymnastics in 2006, but are no strangers to the classroom either, having graduated with top marks from Leeds Metropolitan.

Helen is set to represent Scotland later this year in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, with Carol missing out following an injury earlier in the season.

The sisters are naturally close, but from a young age instinctively knew that they wanted to do everything together. Aged six they took up gymnastics and over the next 12 years catapulted themselves to the top of the sport, competing in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Having retired from the sport, the girls then became the focus of a talent transfer project which aimed to harness their physical similarities and mental understanding and turn them into fully fledged synchronised 10-metre divers.

Speaking about their success Helen says: “It’s very exciting, we’ve worked really hard to study for our degrees alongside training so it’s great to finally get here!”

Carol adds: “We’ve put a lot of hard work into it and to now get the results back makes it all the work worthwhile.”

Carol talks about the benefits of diving with her sister: “Being a twin definitely helps with synchronised diving, always having the other one there the whole time is like having your best friend there all the time. We know what we're both going through, we're always pushing each other, working hard and it's great."