Daley mind games before diving event?published at 14:10 25 July 2024
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist in Paris
Image source, Getty ImagesTom Daley has been speaking about the diving competition at Paris 2024 and the prospect of trying to beat the Chinese swimmers to gold, as he did in Tokyo.
I cannot work out whether Daley's comments are innocent or if he is trying to throw down the gauntlet to China and ramp up the pressure.
The context is that China have won seven out of eight diving golds at each of the past two Olympics.
"The Chinese diving team is the strongest diving nation unquestionably," said Daley, who will compete in the 10m platform event with Noah Williams.
"On paper you would consider them to win every single event but it is the Olympic Games.
"I know every single one of the Chinese divers knows it is their competition to lose, which brings a lot pressure and expectation.
"You go into a competition with a different mindset if you know you could and should win."
