CHINA: SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: British 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist Tom Daley and Chinese silver medallist Qiu Bo dive for fans in Shanghai

Record ID: 858771

  • Title: CHINA: SYNCHRONIZED DIVING: British 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist Tom Daley and Chinese silver medallist Qiu Bo dive for fans in Shanghai
  • Date: 15th October 2012
  • Summary: PHOTOGRAPHER DALEY POSING WITH CHILDREN IN SWIMMING POOL DALEY IN SWIMMING POOL
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE2Y38WFN9TXMW09K88JJZ5O7U
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  • Story Text: British London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist diver Tom Daley and his Chinese rival, silver medallist Qiu Bo, met again in China on Monday (October 15), but this time it was for the fans, not the medals.
    Daley and Qiu performed four rounds of synchronized dives for an audience of young Chinese at a pool in China's financial hub of Shanghai.
    The event, organised by the British consulate in Shanghai to celebrate 40 years of ambassadorial-level relations, was the first time the two had met since a gripping 10 metre platform final at the London Olympics in August, when Daley took the bronze and Qiu took the silver.
    Daley, now a national hero back in the U.K., said life had changed a lot since his Olympic medal.
    "Yes, after winning the Olympic bronze medal, since then it's have been crazy, the amount of people supporting me, respecting me, like walking down the streets you get recognized, things like that. But it's being really good fun," he said.
    Daley said Qiu, 19, was still serious competition.
    "Qiu Bo is an amazing diver and he is going to be very tough to beat in the future, because he is only going to get better. So in Rio 2016, it's going to be a very tough competition but it will be interesting," he said.
    Chinese teen sensation and world champion Qiu, who has dominated the event since 2010, had been favourite for gold in London, but lost out to David Boudia of the United States and hid his face on the pool wall when the result was announced.
    On Monday (October 15), he said Daley did not pose as much of a challenge as the pressure he himself felt.
    "He will be a great diver if he doesn't grow any more. He has a great sense for the water and a great feeling while turning over in the air. Actually, I think my biggest rival is myself. Because China is so close to the gold medal and so keen to get it, then some psychological problems occur, then our rivals can take an advantage on this opportunity," he said.
    Daley and Qiu then helped youngsters practice their dives.
    Fifteen-year-old Dai Jianxiang was impressed by how relaxed and friendly they were.
    "They are very nice. They are just like us ordinary people. They are very good. I had only seen them on television. I thought it was very easy, but I know how difficult it is now that I've tried it myself. They are very good and I respect them," he said.
    Daley said his next competition will be the British national championships in February, after which he will make another appearance in China at the world series and then compete in the world championships in Barcelona.
    Qiu resumes his training in Beijing later this month and is confident that he is in better shape since his disappointment in London.
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