Daley aims to be setting platform for more success in Sheffield

Daley, competing in the 10m platform on Sunday, will attempt the back two-and-a-half somersaults and two-and-a-half twists for the first time at Ponds Forge.

The dive will represent a significant step up in difficulty for Daley as he looks to book a place in the Great Britain squad for the FINA World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, in July.

The Plymouth-born 15-year-old shot to prominence at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he became one of the youngest competitors to represent Britain. He finished a respectable seventh in the 10m platform discipline and followed that up by taking gold in last year's World Championships in Rome.

A busy 2010 awaits the British champion, with the Commonwealth Games and Diving World Series on the horizon.

Daley, who returns to the Steel City in April for the World Series, is eager to get back on the board and test the new dive that won Australian Matt Mitcham gold with an Olympic record two years ago.

"I am really looking forward to competing in Sheffield again," said Daley, as he builds towards the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"Last year was so great for me and I am excited to get 2010 started.

"I am going to be using my new dive in the competition and I am excited to use it for the first time in competition and see how it goes. It is one of the hardest dives out there and we have been working on it since I came back from Rome in August.

"For me, this competition is going to give me a good confidence boost. If I perform well it will give me a good platform to build on for the rest of the competitions this year.

"Hopefully, if I compete well in Sheffield then I'll be in a position to realise my season's goals."

Sheffield's Ben Swain will not be competing due to a knee ligament injury.

Swain, 23, would have had a busy weekend diving in the 1m and 3m springboard, but has seen his start to the season disrupted by an injury that has ruled him out of the USA Diving Grand Prix in May.

Fellow Beijing Olympian and former Sheffield diver Hayley Sage will compete and is in contention for the 1m springboard and 3m springboard synchro.

City of Leeds' Diving Club are sending a 17-strong contingent to the event, including 2008 Beijing Olympian and Leeds resident Rebecca Gallantree.

The 25-year-old will make the short trip to South Yorkshire to defend her 3m springboard crown, and will also take part in the 3m and 10m synchro.

The championships start today at 11.30am and conclude on Sunday afternoon.

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