Tom Daley heads qualifying for Olympic Games 10m platform event
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 20/08/16 9:38am
Tom Daley produced a series of impressive dives to set the pace in the preliminary round of the Olympic Games 10m platform competition in Rio.
The 22-year-old has focused on the event and, judged on the quality of his Friday performance, goes into Saturday's final with a chance of claiming gold after totalling 571.85 points across his six dives.
Daley started strongly and took the lead with his third dive, extending it with a sensational effort in the fourth round, when his score of 103.60 points set the high mark for the day.
China's Qiu Bo and Chen Aisen were second and third with 564.75 and 545.35 points respectively, with Daley's advantage over fourth-placed David Boudia more than 70 points.
Team GB are looking for a second diving gold medal after Jack Laugher and Chris Mears won the 3m synchronised springboard event, the only one so far to elude China.
Daley won a bronze medal alongside Dan Goodfellow in the 10m synchronised platform competition.
"It feels great to come out on top but it doesn't really mean anything because tomorrow it goes back to zero," said Daley.
"My score today would have gotten a gold medal in London and in a lot of the international meets this year."
