World dive champ Daley injury doubt for Youth Games

Britain’s world champion diver Tom Daley is a doubt for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games after pulling out of the European Championships with a triceps injury.

The 16-year-old, who was a shock winner of the men’s 10m platform event at the world championships in Rome last year, was due to compete in the 10m synchro platform final at the Euros in Hungary on Sunday. He will travel to Singapore regardless and hope to be ready for the 3m springboard competition in a week’s time and then the 10m platform.

“The team and I felt it was best not to risk it and completely tear the muscle, which would put me out for three months and would see me miss the Commonwealth Games,” said Daley, one of the Youth Games’ biggest drawcards.

“I’ll travel to Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games but will see how it is before taking a decision to compete,” he added in a statement.

In Singapore, British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan said Daley suffered a “slight tear” in his tricep and was being assessed by a medical team.

“It’s a matter for Tom’s coach to say whether he will compete. But the BOA has an outstanding medical and fitness team here to support him, and then it’s for his coach and Tom to decide,” he said.

Daley is one of the highest-profile competitors in Singapore, which features athletes aged 14 to 18, and his showdown against China’s Qiu Bo, the 2008 world junior champion, was expected to be a highlight.

Daley, who finished seventh at the Beijing Olympics, beat Qiu into second place at the world championships.

AFP