Teenager Laugher looking to follow in Daley’s Olympic ripples

Making an Olympics at a young age would be fantastic, but to do so at a ‘home’ Olympics, nothing could beat that.

If I keep on progressing at the rate I have done this year – I’ve had a very good year – maybe I’ll be in a place in a year’s time where everything will go to plan and I’ll be an Olympian.

The British qualifiers is the next big meet on the horizon.

Shanghai this last few weeks was my first taste of the World Championships, and at 16, just getting there is an achievement in itself, particularly as it came just days after sitting my GCSE exams at Ripon Grammar.

In the junior worlds in Arizona last year I was up against high quality opponents, but obviously the seniors is a step up altogether. Competing on a world stage even at junior level has given me experience to compete with the seniors.

I train at City of Leeds having previously been closer to home at Harrogate. I was a swimmer and a gymnast at the same time and I always loved the water-based sports, a lifeguard spotted me diving and said I should give it a go. There’s great facilities at the John Charles Centre, it’s quite an easy sport to get into. Whether you progress depends on your physical abilities. It’s a fun sport that even kids of seven and eight can enjoy. I would expect plenty of young people to take up all manner of Olympic sports because of the Games. Having such big facilities around Yorkshire, the buzz of the Olympics, hopefully we can see a couple more sportsmen and women coming through.

Obviously Tom Daley is the big name in diving. I’ve never really spoken to Tom about Beijing, we’re just normal mates.

Maybe as the time comes closer to the Olympics I may pick his brains about what it’s like, his thought processes and how he handled it at such a young age.

He’s someone to admire and look up to. He’s proven that as long as you are determined and have the drive, you can succeed and do whatever you want.

Everyone has been great for my development, especially my parents taking me to and from training. Coaches and friends have been so supportive and hopefully that will help me build up to the Games next year.