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Mother's joy for Tom Daley's world triumph
Ben Bailey22 Jul 2009
Diver Tom Daley's mother said she was "shaking with pride" at the 15-year-old's shock world championship victory last night.
"I am really really proud of him, Debbie Daley said. "It was a shock to the system to be honest to think that he is a world champion at the age of 15 - and also that he is the first Briton to win it as well. I am really, really pleased. It was really unexpected."
Daley, seventh in the 2008 Olympic final, last night became Britain's first individual world diving champion after winning the 10metres platform in Rome.
The Plymouth youngster finished with 539.85 points to eclipse China's Qui Bo and Zhou Lukin at the Foro Italico after entering the final round in third.
It is the first world diving medal since Peter Waterfield and Leon Taylor came second in the 10m synchro in 2005.
Mrs Daley said "it got very loud" when he produced a stunning final dive to win. She said: "I did not expect him to medal at all.
"I was perhaps thinking he might get into the top six but when he got into the bronze position I thought 'yes, he has got a medal'- that would have been great in itself but in the space of a few dives he had won gold. I just have not stopped shaking since.
"He is European champion as well - which is the biggest title you can get other than the Worlds and the Olympics - and he did that when he was 13.
"He is the sort of boy who is going to stay focused on his training."
Daley was 14 years and 81 days old when he took his first dive off the 10m platform into the pool at the 2008 Olympics, making him the youngest British Olympian since 1960 when another schoolboy Ken Lester took part in the rowing as a cox.
Reader views (1)
Well done young man. It's a fantastic achievement at such a young age...a role model for young kids if ever I saw one.
- Alan, East London, 22/07/2009 13:05
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