There’s so much to do in Dubai: Tom Daley

English diver Tom Daley in Dubai. — KT photo

The British sensation is in Dubai for this weekend’s edition of the Fina/NVC Diving World Series at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Emirates Road.

The 19-year-old Plymouth Diving Club member began his already illustrious diving career while in school, and at the tender age of nine he graduated to the international stage. Daley, also a TV personality back home was the youngest Olympian in a final during the London chapter, two years ago, where he managed to clinch a memorable bronze medal in 10m individual platform diving, his pet event.

The 10m and 3m individual events and the 10m synchro keep the bubbly easy to talk to Daley fully occupied in his short and highly decorated career. In 2009 he was rated the world No. 1 in the 10m event. “It’s never boring in Dubai when I am here for 2-3 days depending on the length of a series leg. There’s so much to do after I finish with my training at the complex and team meetings,” said Daley.

Daley reckons unless one takes part on a regular basis in the series events organised by Fina, it’s difficult to prepare for the worlds and the Olympics.

“This competition, like the one I am in here this weekend, keeps us in front. The tempo maintained and attained by the competitors are unbelievably high and just the effort in trying to keep pace makes one competition fit for the big stages,” said Daley.

“The return to base after the coaching stints is refreshing and has helped me remain focused on the main goal. The gaps in training and events are far less in today’s modern approach to the sport. The constant pressure of having to sustain oneself at the highest platform keeps all of us going for the medals,” he added.

Daley said: “Rio is in the minds of everyone aiming for gold. We are half way through already and the qualifiers are as tough as getting a medal at the actual Games. All eyes are on the qualifiers and standards set.”

“There’s so much to do not only in the pool but off it especially in a lively place like this wonderful venue (Hamdan Sports Complex), and Dubai of course,” Daley added with his typical boyish smile.