Diving into history! Daley wins bronze but misses golden moment by a whisker
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Tom Daley upset the odds to claim bronze in a controversial and dramatic men's 10-metre platform final.
The 18-year-old led by 0.15 points from world champion Qiu Bo and David Boudia heading into the final dive.
Show us your medal: Tom Daley shows off his Olympic bronze medal
Surprise winner: David Boudia celebrates his gold for USA
But while Daley won a single score of 10 for his final back dive, it was lower on difficulty than his rivals to allow American Boudia to steal the most unlikely of wins.
The upset left Qiu in tears on the poolside while Boudia and Daley both celebrated by jumping into the pool.
Close contest: Qiu Bo was in contention throughout
Leading man: Tom Daley took the lead with one round to go
The die was cast for a dramatic final from the very beginning when Daley, who almost suffered a shock exit when he scraped through in 15th, was awarded a re-dive on his opening effort.
The teen, who lost his father Rob to cancer last May, was initially awarded 7.5s but his coach Andy Banks immediately walked across the pool deck to lodge a protest.
Second life: Tom Daley was allowed to repeat his first dive after complaining about the camera flashes
Top man: But Tom Daley had some tough competition
The Aquatics Centre had lit up with camera flashes which Banks had claimed had distracted his young protege.
After a short chat between Daley and a FINA judge he was allowed to return to the tower, with the crowd again warned against flash photography.
Great reception: Tom Daley enjoyed fantastic support
Despite the apparent drama Daley's response was nerveless as he grabbed scores of 8.5 and, crucially, added 16.2 points on his initial leap.
It left him third, rather than being second-last, and when he followed it with nines for his favoured, but easiest, inward three-and-a-half somersault the roof was raised on the stadium.
Tom boy: Tom Daley recovered after a tricky start
The noise level grew further when Daley got nines for his armstand but at halfway he was in fourth behind surprise leader Boudia, who scraped through last night's first round in the final qualification place.
With the Chinese wedged in between the pressure started to show on them when Daley grabbed nines for his hardest forward four-and-a-half somersaults.
Golden moment: David Boudia won for USA
Boudia nervelessly followed that with a 10 before Lin Yue bombed out of contention and Qiu uncharacteristically mis-timed his entry.
More nines for Daley's penultimate back three-and-a-half somersault, which had David Beckham high-fiving with his children in the stands, then sent him top when Boudia and Qiu were just off.
Topsy turvy: Daley's repeat first-round dive scored very high
It was by the merest of margins though - just 0.15 points from the deadlocked Qiu and Boudia as the drama levels intensified.
Daley dived first of the trio and won a single 10, but mainly nines, for his simpler reverse three-and-a-half somersault.
Home crowd: Tom Daley's mother Debbie, and brother William, watch the diving final
Here we go: Tom Daley is thrown into the pool after winning his bronze medal
The lower degree of difficulty left the door open for his rivals and Boudia pounced with 9.5 for his back dive.
Raging favourite Qiu was then unable to match that with the same dive to leave the crowd roaring and the American, and Daley, in raptures.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2187152/London-Olympics-2012-Tom-Daley-wins-bronze-misses-golden-chance-whisker.html#ixzz23HJD2m9o
