Tom Daley and his wide smile seemingly go hand-in-hand and the British diving star admits nothing would stop him from flashing his pearly whites should he grab Rio 2016 gold.
Friday saw Daley named in an 11-strong Team GB diving squad that will be strutting their stuff at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre from August 7-19 at Rio 2016.
For Daley it is a chance to build on his impressive performance from four years ago, when he landed a bronze in the 10m platform in front of a raucous home crowd at London 2012.
Since those Games the 22-year-old has continued to impress, winning gold at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games before taking home the 10m platform and mixed 3m synchro European title back at the London Aquatics Centre just last month.
That has meant that Daley smiling atop the podium is becoming a reassuringly familiar sight, but the Plymouth-born ace is adamant that we won’t have seen anything like it if he rules the roost in Rio.
“Rio 2016 is going to be awesome,” he said. “I’m so excited to get out there and give it my best shot.
“I feel like I’m in pretty good condition at the moment, touch wood with all the injuries. I want to go out there and give it my best shot to try and come away with an Olympic gold medal.
“If I was to win an Olympic gold medal, you could lock me in a dark box for the rest of my life and I’d be happy as long as I had my Olympic medal with me.
“It’s one of those things that I’ve worked so hard for all my life and I’m doing everything I can in my power to get it. And I’m going to fight to the end with those Chinese guys, it’s not over until it’s over. I’m going to give it my best shot.
“The Chinese are always looking really strong. It’s just about what happens on the day and making sure that I go out there in the best condition possible.
“Especially with an outdoor pool like Rio, you’ve got to expect anything. Rain, wind – whatever it is that’s thrown at you – you have to be able to handle it.”
As he warms up for his second Games outing, Daley claimed his fifth domestic 10m platform gold at the British Championships in Plymouth at the weekend.
But he admits nothing compares to competing for Team GB with the Olympic rings on your trunks.
“The first thing that comes to my mind when I think London 2012 is the overwhelming and incredible home support and having 18,000 people in the audience cheering,” Daley added.
“Just the whole atmosphere was very special and obviously winning that Olympic medal was a massive highlight for me. And now I get to train in that pool every single day.
“Every time I walk into the London Aquatics Centre and see the diving boards, there are so many memories which come back. Standing on the end of the board, I remember going into my last dive looking down at the bottom of the pool and seeing the Olympic rings.
“It’s what dreams are made of when you walk into that pool and stand on the board at the Olympic Games. It’s what you dream of as a young kid and I’m really excited now moving forward into Rio 2016.
“Being part of Team GB is just the biggest honour you can get as a GB athlete. To be wearing the kit and to be part of that team – it’s like you’ve been let in to a special club.
“It’s one of those things – once you’re an Olympian, you’re always an Olympian. So having that in your back pocket makes you feel really good.” Sportsbeat 2016