Veteran Olympian Peter Waterfield has insisted he will not cramp the style of British diving partner and teenage pin-up Tom Daley at London’s Olympic Games — despite their 13-year age difference.
The 31-year-old Waterfield, who won a silver in the synchronised 10m platform with Leon Taylor at the 2004 Athens Games, will partner 18-year-old Daley in the same event at the Aquatics Centre on Monday.
Daley’s image has graced numerous posters, magazines and advertising campaigns across the nation in the build-up to the Games.
But Waterfield said he was happy for the teenager from Plymouth to hog the limelight.
“He’s closer to my son’s age than mine,” said Waterfield, who is competing at his fourth Olympics.
“I’ve got an 11-year-old boy and even he tells me to go away sometimes, so I don’t want to cramp Tom’s style.
“He’s a good-looking lad and I am sure he has loads of girls after him, so he doesn’t want me standing next to him.”
Daley, who won world platform title in Rome three years ago, has said it is “surreal” to be in the same team as Waterfield as Britain look to break China’s domination of Olympic diving
“I was 10 years old when he won his silver medal,” said Daley, who made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old at the Beijing Games.
“I was actually at my parents’ caravan in Newquay (in Cornwall, England) at the time, trying to tune in our television so I could watch the whole thing.
“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, he (Waterfield) has an Olympic medal!’.
“My dream was to get a medal too and to compete at a Games. It’s surreal to now be diving alongside him.”
Veteran wary of cramping pin-up Daley's style
