As the London 2012 Olympics commence today I would like to send very special good wishes to 18 year old Olympian Diver Tom Daley who is from my home City of Plymouth, Devon, England. Many of you will probably remember him as a 14 year old diver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. More recently Tom had hearts in mouths when he dived at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where he won two gold medals.
In 2007, 2009 and 2010, he was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
He is one of Britain's gleaming hopes for gold at the London 2012 Olympics. I recently bought his first official memoir and it is a heartbreaking and inspiring story of a young athlete coping with the death of his father in May 2011 whilst under the glare of the world's media spotlight. His father Rob Daley was his dedicated and inspirational motivator. I know that Tom will perform to his absolute maximum in the diving competition in order to honour his late father.
I am certain that I speak for all the citizens of the City of Plymouth, and indeed the whole of the country, when I wish Tom every success in these Olympic Games. I feel certain that all his hard work and dedicated training schedules will be richly rewarded despite the fierce competition from all over the world. Good luck Tom and be assured that all the citizens of Plymouth are fully behind you in this epic challenge.
I am an Altar Server at the Parish Church of Plympton St. Mary and had the honour and privilege of carrying the Cross at the Funeral Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Tom's father, Rob Daley, on the 8th June last year. I was inspired by Tom's composure and eloquent eulogy. He was only 17 at the time.
Robert James David Daley
16th June 1970 -27th May 2011
Tom's first memoir is titled TOM DALEY My Story. It is a brilliant read and will inspire any young person who reads it that, with confidence and determination, the world can be their oyster. It is priced £16.99 and is available from all good book shops and online via http://www.penguin.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/, etc.
The ISBN number is 978-0-718-15807-1
2 comments:
Good luck to him.
Congratulations Tom & Pete on coming 4th in the Olympic Synchronized Diving Final on Monday. The margins were so tight and it was only by single figures that you missed out on the Bronze Medal. Both of you can be well pleased with achieving 4th position in these world class championships. The whole nation is very proud of both of you. I wish you the very best of luck in the Individual Finals next week.
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