LONDON: Diving is rarely headline news in Britain but Tom Daley is changing all that.
He will be aged just 14 when he competes in Beijing, making him Britain's second-youngest Olympian of all time.
And while the teenager from Plymouth, southwest England, has repeatedly insisted his main aim in China is to gain experience ahead of the 2012 Games in London, he cannot be ruled out completely as a medal contender.
Even more remarkable than his Olympic qualification at the FINA World Cup in February was his performance a month later in becoming European 10m platform champion in Eindhoven.
Thomas Daley, 13, of Britain dives in the men's 10m platform final at the European Swimming Championships in Eindhoven on March 24. Reuters
Then aged just 13, Daley took on a field that was on average nine years older than he was and included World Cup title-holder Sascha Klein.
The German's victory denied the powerful Chinese team a clean sweep of World Cup gold medals earlier this year.
Beating the man who beat the Chinese saw Daley subjected to a new level of media interest.
But Daley, whose slender frame gives him an advantage over adult competitors because it makes acrobatic spins easier and means he is less likely to make a points-losing big splash on entry, is trying to play down expectations.
"I am really looking forward to the Games themselves, they should be really good fun," he said. "I can't wait to just be in the Olympic village and soaking up the experience.
"Getting a medal is going to be tough, I am going there for the experience, but who knows what can happen.
"The Chinese are the top diving nation, but the only competition that's really open is the men's 10m and hopefully someone like the Germans or the Americans can beat them.
"In London I hope to win Olympic gold, I would love to win any medal."
Daley took up diving aged seven and such was his aptitude for the sport he was British under-18 champion by the age of 10.
Two years ago he finished second in the senior national championships before this year becoming the youngest winner of the British 10m title.
