Tom Daley

In May 2008, he was ranked 6th in the FINA Diving World Rankings men's 10-metre platform category, and by the following July he was ranked equal 17th, due to not participating in recent FINA Grand Prix meetings.[2] He has qualified for the British team to the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 10m platform and in the 10m platform synchro competition.

Biography

Influences

Daley's early diving heroes were Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie, who won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games at the age of 13,[1] and British diver Leon Taylor.

Early career

Daley won his age-group at the British Championships in the 1m springboard, the 3m springboard, and platform in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

In June 2004, at age ten, he won the platform competition in the National Junior (under 18) group, making him the youngest winner of that event.

In 2005 he competed as a guest competitor in the Australian Elite Junior Nationals, and placed first in platform and second in 3m springboard in the 14-15 age group event. He also competed in the 14-15 category at the 2005 Aachen Junior International, placing second in platform and third in 3m springboard. He met the qualification standard for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, but was not selected for the England team because of his age.[3] In 2006 he was the under-18 British champion in platform and springboard, and he placed second in the 10m platform at the 2007 senior British Championships, which were held in December 2006.