Crucial redive leads to Daley's Olympic medal

LONDON - After grabbing his first Olympic medal in men's 10m platform final at London Games on Saturday, British water baby Tom Daley said he could not make the podium without a crucial redive.

Daley, cheered on by an ecstatic capacity of home crowd including David Backham, succeeded in competing under pressure and finished third in 497.40 points to take his first Olympic medal.

Britain's Tom Daley (C) is thrown into the pool by the British diving team after he won the bronze medal in the men's 10m platform final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Center, Aug 11, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

In the breathtaking games, Daley appealed for redive after finishing his first move due to distractions from flashlights of home fans.

Judges approved his appeal and Daley got restart and his dive collected more than 20 points from the previous one.

The 18-year-old admitted that he would not end up with a medal if he had not appealed for redive.

"I saw too many flashing when I took off the first dive. It made me disorientated," he said.

He said he did not expect the home advantage turned to be home disadvantage, and he spoke to referees to apply for redive.

Daley said he benefited from his experiences in competitions over the last four years that he should make sure the competition environment was fair and suitable for himself.

The last year of the Plymouth teenager has been inauspicious after he lost his father to cancer last May, and was scolded for his media appearances by British Swimming's performance chief.

Daley said the medal has made his dream come true. "All my dedications, sacrifice and hard training were paid off, " he said.

"Hopefully next time the medal would change a color," laughing as he added.

Britain's Tom Daley poses with his bronze medal during the men's 10m platform victory ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Center, Aug 11, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]