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12:00 GMT, Monday, 25 February 2008

Daley setting sights on 2012 gold

Tom Daley

British diver Tom Daley is hoping to gain valuable experience at the Beijing Olympics as he pursues his goal of winning gold in London in 2012.

Daley, 13, will become Britain's second youngest male Olympian after securing his qualification at the Fina diving World Cup on Sunday.

"In the individual event I'm just going to go out and enjoy myself, get some experience," Daley told BBC Radio 4.

"Hopefully by the time 2012 comes around I'll know what it's all about."

The teenager from Plymouth took bronze in the 10m synchro event, but needed a top-eight finish in the individual, and finished seventh.

Daley sealed his place at the Olympics by completing a powerful reverse three-and-a-half, scoring four 10s from the judges.

The 13-year-old will compete in the 10m platform event and could perform in the 10m synchro with partner Blake Aldridge.

Each nation is allocated one slot in the doubles event - and Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor are also in contention.

"I can't believe I'm going to the Olympic Games," added Daley.

"I thought I might get into London 2012 but to get it this soon is absolutely amazing - it's an absolute honour to be able to represent my country."

He will be aged 14 years and 81 days when the Olympic competition begins in August, making him the youngest British male to compete at the Games since 1960, when Kenneth Lester coxed a rowing pair in Rome aged 13 years and 144 days.

"It will be an honour to represent my country and get all the kit, stay in the Olympic village, and, when I'm old enough, get a tattoo with the Olympic rings"
Tom Daley

"In the synchro anything can happen in an Olympic final so it could go in our favour or it couldn't," said Daley.

"Here it went in our favour and we got a bronze medal."

Daley will have to juggle his diving with his education but he doesn't envisage any problems.

"School are very good with it - they give me work to go away with and soon we're going to be getting a private tutor to come away with me on competitions so I can be taught when I'm not training," he said.

"It will be an honour to represent my country and get all the kit, stay in the Olympic village, and, when I'm old enough, get a tattoo with the Olympic rings.

"Just the thought of going to the world's top competition is absolutely amazing."

Tom Daley is one of the athletes BBC Sport is following as part of the Olympics Dreams series and you can read regular behind-the-scenes updates on his progress at bbc.co.uk/olympics.



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Related to this story:

Typing error denies Daley record (26 Feb 08 |  Diving )
GB ready for teenage Olympian (25 Feb 08 |  Olympics )
Teen Daley qualifies for Olympics (24 Feb 08 |  Diving )
Daley helps GB secure Games spot (22 Feb 08 |  Diving )
Olympic places secured by Britons (20 Feb 08 |  Diving )
Team GB for Beijing (28 Jan 08 |  Team GB )
Swimming on the BBC (02 Oct 07 |  Swimming )
Diving's battle of the ages (02 Jan 08 |  Swimming )
Injured Taylor out of nationals (02 Jan 08 |  Swimming )
Diver Tom scoops top sports award (10 Dec 07 |  Devon )
Olympic Dreams - Tom Daley (03 Oct 07 |  London 2012 )

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