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British teen diver makes waves and looks to Olympics

Teenage diver Tom Daley is on course to become Great Britain's youngest male Olympian after helping his country earn a place in the 10m synchronized platform diving at this year's Beijing Games.

Daley is only 13 but he is already regarded as one of the sport's brightest stars and, together with his partner Blake Aldridge, won a bronze medal in the 10m synchro at the World Cup event in the Chinese capital on Friday.

Daley will be 14 years and 80 days old when the Games begin, beating the record for the youngest British male Olympian by more than a year.

The previous youngest competitor was Fred Hodges, also a diver. Hodges was 15 years and 94 days when he went to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

If Daley comes in the top eight in the weekend's individual event he will himself qualify for the Games and be the youngest-ever male British Olympian.

But in the pairs, Daley and Aldridge will face tough competition from 2004 Olympic silver medalists Leon Taylor and Pete Waterfield.

"In the trials in June we'll find out who takes up the place out of me and Blake or Leon and Pete," Daley said.

"We're another step closer to my dream of competing in the Olympics. It's something I've wanted for a long time and hopefully it'll come true this year," he said.

Daley is still pinning his hopes on being automatically selected in the singles.

"If I get to the semi-finals I'll be very happy because it'll be an Olympic spot. If I get to the finals that's a bonus," he said.
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