YOG 2010: Daley limits Youth Olympic campaign to springboard event

Posted: Friday 20th August 2010 | 9:18

From Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

TOM Daley will compete in the 3m springboard competition at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore - but not the 10m platform event in which he is world champion.

COMPETING: British world diving champion Tom Daley speak with reporters during a press conference at the Youth Olympic Games (Singapore Press Holdings)

The decision was taken as a precaution, following discussions between the diver and team leader Andy Banks, as the 16-year old recovers from the tricep injury that prevented him defending his European title in Budapest last week.

And Daley, who was named in England's squad for October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, admitted his trip to the Indian capital was a factor in the decision.

"I am gutted that I can't do the 10m but I know that if I did it then the injury would become so much worse and I wouldn't be able to compete for the rest of the year," he said.

"And there are some big things for me still this year like the Commonwealth Games and the World Junior Championships so I want to make sure I am fit for those.

"The Commonwealth Games were definitely in mind and it was hard but sometimes you have to come to a decision and sometimes things don't go your way.

"But I'm glad that everything is happening now rather than in 2011 or in 2012 and I have just got to make sure I do a lot of preventative stuff from now on to make sure it doesn't happen again."

While there's little doubting that the 10m platform is where Daley's strengths lie, he does have some pedigree in the 3m springboard competition, having clinched silver at the World Junior Championships in 2008.

But Daley is adamant he is placing no expectations on himself in Singapore.

"There's definitely no expectation on me for the 3m because the last time I competed in it was back in 2008 at the world juniors," he added.

"I finished second there but that was a massive surprise because I had one of the easiest lists and I just ended up diving really well on the day.

"The competitive spirit does come out sometimes and you end up diving well.

"So there is no expectation really I just have to go out there and try and jump well and not fall off the board.

"Definitely I will go out there and give it my best shot though. I'll definitely be going all or nothing on every dive.

"I'll try for a medal definitely but I know that I am not quite there on springboard yet because I don't train it as much as platform."

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