OLYMPIC bronze medallist Tom Daley has called on North Yorkshire diver Jack Laugher to put his unnecessary fears to one side and join him on the ten-metre platform.
Laugher and Daley struck up a successful partnership at the World Junior Championships in Adelaide last month as they took gold in the synchronised three-metre springboard event.
And now Daley, who claimed individual ten-metre platform bronze at London 2012, wants Laugher to seriously consider partnering him in the synchronised event on the high board.
Daley currently dives with Peter Waterfield while Laugher concentrates on the springboard events and also won silver and gold in the individual one-metre and three-metre events respectively in Australia.
Chris Mears is another diver Daley is trying to convince to step up to the ten-metre platform and he insists neither him nor Ripon’s Laugher should be scared of doing so.
“Diving with Jack at the world juniors just last month was a lot of fun,” said Daley, speaking at the Aviva School Sport Matters Awards at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
“I really enjoyed that and I liked the springboard, but to be honest I want to convince either him or Chris to come to the ten-metre platform.
“The problem is that they are too scared. I know that sounds ridiculous but they are divers and yet they don’t like the idea of coming to join me in the ten-metre.
“I am going to continue diving with Pete at the moment. He has said he intends to retire after the Commonwealth Games in 2014. I hope those guys can come and join me, as the future of British diving looks really strong.”
While calling on Laugher to step up to the ten-metre, Daley admits he is open to the idea of joining his fellow world junior champion in the synchronised three-metre springboard.
“I quite enjoyed the springboard event in the juniors with Jack so whether I could try to do that with the platform I don’t know,” he added.
“It’s quite an interesting time for me. Springboard is a lot more technical whereas the ten-metre platform is a lot more scary.”
• The Aviva and Daily Telegraph School Sport Matters Awards recognise outstanding achievements in school sport across the country, and are part of Aviva’s wider commitment to support the next generation of British sporting talent. For more information go to aviva.co.uk/rugby-sponsorship
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