Tom Daley hoping he can deny China a clean sweep of diving golds again

By David Charlesworth, PA, Paris

Tom Daley is out to dash China’s bid for a clean sweep of Olympic gold medals in diving once again.

Daley ended a 13-year wait for Olympic glory at the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago as he and Matty Lee won the men’s synchronised 10 metre platform, edging out China’s pair by a wafer-thin 1.23 points.

China hoovered up the remaining seven gold medals in Japan, matching their haul from Rio 2016, when Team GB was once again responsible for denying them all eight as Chris Mears and Jack Laugher won the men’s synchronised three-metre springboard.

While Daley, who will this time partner Noah Williams in the defence of his title on Monday, accepts China will be favourites, he believes the format brings other nations into the reckoning.

“The synchro events are straight finals and on Monday, it comes down to six dives, so who can do the best six dives within 45 minutes, we’ll find out – it’s quite intense,” Daley said.

“The Chinese diving team is the strongest diving nation, unquestionably. On paper you would probably consider them to win every single event but it’s the Olympic Games and I know that every single one of the Chinese divers knows that it’s their competitions to lose, which brings a lot of pressure.

“You go into the competition with a different mindset if you know you could and should win. I think the rest of the world is very much on China’s heels to be ready to challenge them.

“It’s an achievement for the rest of the world: if anyone is able to break the eight gold medals. Last time, me and Matty took away one of their gold medals and the time before that, GB also took it away.

“It’s possible; it’s always going to be tough but diving is such an on the day sport.”

Daley, who has been named as Team GB’s joint flag bearer for Friday’s opening ceremony alongside rower Helen Glover, effectively retired after Tokyo, where he also won bronze in the men’s 10m individual event.

He was coaxed into a return at the urging of one of his young sons, returning to the pool last year and in February he and Williams claimed silver in the World Championships in Doha.

The 30-year-old will not compete in the solo discipline this time but is relishing being able to dive in front of a crowd after Covid-restrictions meant his Tokyo successes were held behind closed doors.

“For me going into these Games having won a gold medal in Tokyo, to now come here, being able to compete in front of a crowd again is something that is very exciting,” he added.

“I think it gave a little bit more about the performance side of things in Tokyo because there wasn’t that razzmatazz, there was none of the excitement outside the pool, which made it very focused and intense.

“This time, I think a lot of athletes are looking to soak up the experience.

“Going into this in terms of expectations, I just want to be able to go out and show my best that I can and my biggest achievement will be to dive in front of my husband and two little kids.”