Jason Statham has been discussing his brief career as a professional diver, revealing that his failure to get to an Olympic Games remains a “sore point”.

It’s certainly no secret that Statham competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, but that it’s still a sensitive subject for the action star comes as a bit of a surprise.

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Speaking to Press Association (via Belfast Telegraph) at the premiere of ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’, Statham said: “It’s a bit of a sore point I never got to the Olympics.

"I just heard they got seven million or something for the diving per year. They deserve it. The divers we’ve got now are just terrific.”

Asked why he didn’t make it as far as the Olympics, the star of 'Fast and Furious 7’ and 'The Transporter’ series said: “I started too late. It probably wasn’t my thing. I should have done a different sport.”

Clearly the Brit went on to have a successful career away from the diving board, having starred in numerous cult favourite action movies.

Of his latest movie - a sequel to a remake of Michael Winner’s 'The Mecahnic’ - 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.”

'Mechanic: Resurrection’ hits UK cinemas on Friday.

Picture Credits: BBC / Universal Pictures