At just 14 years and 81 days old at the start of the Beijing Olympics, Tom Daley was Britain's second youngest male ever to enter the Olympics, only beaten by Kenneth Lester, a cox at the 1960 Olympics, who was aged 13 years and 144 days.

Tom Daley qualified for the Beijing Olympics in February 2008 at the FINA World Cup when he was seventh in the men's individual 10m platform event.

2008 continued to be a good year for Tom Daley. In March 2008, still only 13-years-old, he won the European Men's 10m Platform Individual title, beating the current World Champion Gleb Galperin and World Cup Champion, Sascha Klein.

At 5ft 2in and 7st 7lb, Tom Daley was significantly younger, shorter and lighter than the competition.

When not diving, Tom Daley went to school at Eggbuckland Community College in Plymouth, however he gained a scholarship to Plymouth College.

His father Rob was an electrician but was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2006. Unable to work, Rob devoted himself to supporting his son, whilst Tom's mother Debbie worked part-time at financial administration at a local nursery.

His first major diving success was when he became the under 18 Platform champion at the Nationals in June 2004.

In 2007 Tom Daley won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

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