Tom Daley admits Rio will be firmly on the mind of Britain’s divers in Kazan after a nine-strong contingent was named for next month’s World Championships.
Great Britain’s nine-strong team includes six divers currently ranked in the world top-12 following this year’s World Series.
Daley returns to World Championships competition having won Commonwealth Games gold and European silver, not to mention six medals during the World Series.
Double Commonwealth Games champion Jack Laugher will arrive in Kazan full of confidence having won three golds during the World Series, while he will also compete alongside Chris Mears
Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow and Commonwealth champions Rebecca Gallantree and Alicia Blagg will also be competing again, while Matty Lee and James Denny will make their World Championship debuts.
In order to secure quota places for the 3m Springboard and 10m Platform events at the Olympic Games in Rio, British divers need to reach the final in those respective events in Kazan, with Daley adamant that is exactly what they aim to do.
“Competing at the World Championships a year out from Rio is a key moment for all of the British Divers.” Daley told British Swimming.
“We’ll be looking to grab those Olympic spots for Great Britain, that’s our main aim at this competition. The more places we qualify in Kazan, the less pressure we’ll have at the World Cup in 2016, which would be the next opportunity for us to qualify for Rio.
“I love competing and I love facing up to the best in the world. Most of the team has been on the World Series circuit so we’ve been competing at a high level for most of the season but I think everyone will up their game at the Worlds.
“I can’t wait to get out there. We’ve been working really hard in training to make sure we are at our best on the day and winning medals earlier in the season gives me confidence going into Kazan.”
© Sportsbeat 2015