ASTom Daley shows the bullies how it's done22 July 2009
Teenage diver Tom Daley has overcome school bullying and Olympic disappointment to take gold at his first world championships.
The 15 year old pulled off a near-perfect reverse three and a half somersault tuck to win the ten-metre platform event at the FINA World Championships at Rome's Foro Italico.
Speaking after his win, Daley said: "To come away with a gold medal was unthinkable. It still hasn't sunk in. It makes all the sacrifices worthwhile. Now I want to do it again in 2012."
At last year's Beijing Olympics, Daley – then 14 – had a rather public falling out with his synchronised diving partner Blake Aldridge and lost out on a medal, finishing in eighth place.
Then in April this year, his parents chose to take him out of his Plymouth school when bullies, rallied by the publicity he received in Beijing, made his life a misery and even threatened to break his legs.
His victory may now allow Daley to put these memories behind him and focus on the London Olympics.
Last year the BBC reported a rise in youngsters taking up diving since British medal wins at the Olympics and the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
SIDEWAYS News for fresh perspectives
Teenage diver Tom Daley defies bullies to become world championThe Guardian, Wednesday 22 July 2009
With barely a ripple, teenage diver Tom Daley last night became a world champion – and simultaneously put memories of a disappointing Olympics and cruel school bullying behind him.
Daley's win in Rome – to become world champion at the 10m individual platform event – takes him a long way from his performance in Beijing. There he had a very public falling out – over a mobile phone call his synchro diving partner Blake Aldridge took between dives – and they finished eighth.
Daley's success led to him being bullied at school. It got worse when he became more well known and he was eventually forced to change schools. At the time, his father, Rob, said: "In class they throw pens and pencils at him. Some have even threatened to break his legs. That was the last straw."
The teenager has now enrolled at the independent Plymouth College, which boasts a number of national athletes including swimmer Cassie Patten, who won a bronze medal in Beijing.
Daley, 15, described his win as "insane". "To come away with gold was unthinkable. It still hasn't sunk in. It makes all the sacrifices worthwhile. Now I want to do it again in 2012."
His father, who was in Rome to see his son's victory, said: "I had a flashback of his whole life and I looked up and he was world champion and he is 15. It is an unbelievable feeling."
GUARDIAN