London 2012: Tom Daley wins bronze – in pictures

The best images from the Aquatics Centre as the young star of Beijing wins an unlikely medalDaley completed a series of complex dives with great precision and consistency After qualifying as the fourth best diver from the semi-finals, Tom Daley is hoping he can go one step better and finish in the top three in the final. But that is one hell of an ask given the standard of competition he's facingQiu Bo of China was the out and out favourite. He may have had a strapped left foot, but that didn't hinder his performance one bit. Unsurprisingly, he was the top qualifier from the semis
With the Chinese favourites faltering and USA's David Boudia looking good for gold, Daley must maintain his high standards … and he does with another peach of a dive - a back three-and-a-half somersault - which scores 97.20 and leaves him first overall … he's now one dive away from an Olympic medal ... he opts for a lower tariff and nails it to win bronze!Each of Daley's six dives scored higher than 80 marks... placing him fourth
EARLIER IN THE DAY .... Tom Daley was competing for a spot in the men's 10m platform diving final. But there were 17 other men intent on that goal and only 12 could make it throughThe reigning Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham was struggling for formIn the final, Daley's first dive - a back two-and-a-half somersault two-and-half-twists with pike - plops into the pool. It's gets a predictably low score of 75.60, but the Brit complains that flash photos were taken during his effort and is granted a re-dive. His second effort is much better, carding 91.20, placing him second at the end of round oneHis subsequent dives are pretty damn good too! Not least his forward four-and-a-half somersault, which scores him a whopping 98.05. He's third with two dives remaining … outstanding stuffDaley is catapulted into the pool by the delirious British diving teamEcstasy for Daley just a week after the disappointment of finishing fourth in the 10m synchronised event with Peter WaterfieldAfter receiving his medal, Daley told the media: "It's been the toughest year of my life. Olympic bronze medal - I can't believe it!"And with the likes of Mitcham failing to qualify for the final, Daley's outside hopes of a medal were boosted.,,,,