PLYMOUTH’S Tom Daley claimed a second medal at the World Aquatic Championships on Thursday by winning silver in the men’s 10m synchronised final with new partner Noah Williams.
Daley had made a winning return to international competition at the start of the championships by helping Great Britain to the gold medal in the team event.
But his podium place in the synchro competition in Doha was even more important as it secured Team GB a quota spot for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Daley and Williams, competing in their first international competition as a pair, scored 422.37 points to finish behind China’s Lian Junjie and Yang Hao.
Olympic gold medallist Daley, whose old school headteacher was among those cheering from the stands, said: “I was terrified when I woke up this morning, terrified eating breakfast, and at lunch. But once I got into the competition, and being with Noah, I kind of relaxed and was like, ‘ah, this is what it feels like’.
“We knew that we had to try to qualify a spot for the Olympics, which we succeeded in – but I think we went into it more fighting for the medals rather than thinking about the spots.
“We’re super happy, and it’s my first ever silver medal at a World Championships, so I’ve got the set now.
“Today was what it all came down to, whether I was going to be able to be fit enough to dive with Noah in the first place, and then be able to actually come in the top qualifying spots. That’s mission accomplished so far, and now it’s about staying fit and healthy to get to the start line [in Paris], so now the real work starts.”
Williams added: “We came into today’s competition just trying to get an Olympic spot, and we did that and got a medal as well, so we’re very happy with the performance. We obviously haven’t trained too much together, but I think it has come pretty naturally to both of us.
“Tom said about seeing if he’s fit enough to dive with me, it’s definitely the other way around. I just try to do my best next to him, he’s obviously a great diver, so the better I dive, we’ll hopefully be able to be pushing for gold.”
Meanwhile, the next crop of young divers hoping to follow in Daley’s footsteps will be in action at the Life Centre from Saturday until Tuesday as Plymouth Diving hosts their annual Armada Cup.