With the Youth Olympic Games quickly approaching, many countries are finalizing their teams for the athletic events. On July 13, 2010, Great Britain announced that 16-year-old reigning world champion Tom Daley would represent the country in diving events.
Daley, who was the youngest athlete to compete for Great Britain in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the age of 14, specializes in the 10-meter platform events. At the Olympic Games, Daley finished seventh in the individual 10-meter event and eighth in the synchronized 10-meter event with his then-new partner, Max Brick.
Tom Daley: Competing Against Peers at 2010 Youth Olympic Games
Although he was a surprise individual 10-meter platform winner at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Daley is no newbie on the international scene. But representing Great Britain in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore is something different for Daley, who is often competing against athletes who are much older than he is, rather than athletes his own age.
"I am very proud and excited to represent Team GB at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore,” Daley said in a written statement. “It is always a special feeling to put on Team GB kit and compete for your country on the international stage.”
About the Youth Olympic Games: Age Requirements
To be eligible to compete in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, athletes must be 14-18 years old. The 2010 YOG run from Aug. 14-26, and more than 3,600 athletes from 205 national Olympic committees will converge on Singapore to compete. The event, which is sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, is modeled after the traditional modern Olympic Games, and all 26 summer Olympic sports will be contested.
The YOG is another opportunity for Daley to become familiar with an Olympic Village-type atmosphere, which will help him prepare for the 2012 London Olympic Games, he said.
"Building upon my participation at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, I am looking forward to gaining further experience of a multi-sport environment and the unique atmosphere of living alongside athletes from different sports and countries in an Olympic Village,” Daley said in a written statement. "The Youth Olympic Games are another important step for me on the road to London 2012, where I will do my very best to win gold for Team GB."
Daley in 10-Meter Platform Diving Events in 2010
So far in 2010, Daley has competed in the British Championship, where he finished second in the 10-meter platform diving event and in the Qingdao World Series event, where he placed fourth. Daley also competed in both Veracruz World Series diving events, where he did not make the finals in the first Veracruz event, and he placed fourth in the second Veracruz event. The second Veracruz Diving World Series event was scheduled to be held in Sheffield, Great Britain, but had to be moved because athletes were not able to travel to the country due to volcanic ash.
Daley will be joined in Singapore by female diver Megan Sylvester. Sylvester, 16, also competes in the 10-meter platform diving event. In 2008, she finished fourth in the World Junior Diving Championships in the event.
The diving events at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be held Aug. 21-Aug. 24 at the Tao Payoh Swimming Complex. Read on for more information about how to purchase tickets to the YOG sporting events or to the YOG closing ceremony.
Resources:
Tom Daley among the stars of Britain's squad for Youth Olympic Games. The Guardian, July 13, 2010. Accessed July 16, 2010.
Megan Sylvester: Telegraph 10 for the London 2012 Olympics. The Telegraph. April, 2009. Accessed July 16, 2010.
Kristen Nichols - Kristen is a freelance reporter and copywriter covering Olympic and Paralympic sport for Suite101.com. Kristen's love of sport developed ...
