Jason Statham: ‘It’s a bit of a sore point I never got to the Olympics’

Action movie star Jason Statham has revealed his failure to compete at the Olympic Games remains a “sore point”.

The actor represented England in diving at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand but finished outside the medal positions in three competitions.

Statham, 49, praised the increased funds for diving after Team GB’s success at Rio 2016 but believed he chose the wrong sport.

At the Los Angeles premiere with supermodel fiancée Rosie Huntington-Whiteley of his new film Mechanic: Resurrection, he said: “It’s a bit of a sore point I never got to the Olympics.

“They got seven million for the diving per year. They deserve it. The divers now are just terrific.”

He added: “I started too late. It probably wasn’t my thing. I should have done a different sport.”

Stratham stars opposite Jessica Alba in the new film, which a sequel to the 200 remake of Michael Winner’s The Mechanic.

He said: “I think I’m more suited to action movies than courtroom dramas so I tend to stick to those.

“It’s something I get a lot of fulfilment out of. I feel I’m better at those than I am at other stuff. I play to my strength I suppose.”