Tom Daley wins gold
Fifteen year old Plymouth-based Tom Daley has become the first British world diving champion.
Against the odds, and with his last of six dives, Daley beat the Olympic gold medal-winner, the World Cup champion and the world junior champion to win the ten-metre platform event.
Rob, Daley’s father, breached security by taking a microphone and saying, “I’m his father. Tom, come and give me a cuddle.”
It’s well known that Tom has been the target of bullying after his mature performances in Beijing. Rob continued, “It’s been hell for all of us. And for Tom especially. If [the school bullies] can understand this, I say this to them, he fought back, he kept smiling, he’s held his head high and did not give up. He has not let you beat him. He has come out winning. He is a world champion. We’re immensely proud of him.”
Tom replied, “I can’t believe what I’ve done. I was obviously giving it my very best, but I honestly thought I would finish fourth as the guys ahead of me were all diving superbly. I would have been happy with fourth as my only aim was to dive well but to go from fourth to bronze to silver and then gold was unbelievable.
“I woke up today thinking I would just enjoy the competition, it is just an amazing sensation. It was unthinkable what happened, I just fell to the floor.
“I didn’t know what to do. All of the hard work from everyone has really paid off. I am totally stunned.”
The new champion then refocused on the future, “Now I just want to do the same in London 2012.”
