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‘I almost quit‘

Rio 2016: Tom Daley reveals he almost quit diving with stress after London 2012 nightmare

Tom Daley says he almost quit diving after London 2012 Olympics

TOM DALEY has sensationally revealed he almost QUIT diving after his London 2012 Olympic nightmare.

British diver Daley, a hopeful for Rio 2016, was forced to redo a crucial dive at the last Games after losing control of his first attempt in mid-air because of flashing cameras.

Tom Daley admitted he almost quit diving after being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder
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Tom Daley said he was treated for post-traumatic stress disorder after London 2012Credit: PA:Press Association
Tom Daley is one of Britain's hopefuls for Rio 2016
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Diver Tom Daley is one of Britain's hopefuls for Rio 2016 next monthCredit: Fame Flynet

I lost motivation. I thought I might not want to do diving any more, not go to another Olympics. I wanted to go out and be a normal teenager

Tom Daley

Daley, 22, said he received treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder after the incident.

He told the : "My instant reaction was that I just didn’t want to go back up there.

"I was the most terrified I’ve ever been in my life, thinking I could lose it again in front of 18,000 people."

Daley still won bronze but admitted the trauma he went through almost put him off competing at another Olympics.

He added: "I lost motivation. I thought I might not want to do diving any more, not go to another Olympics. I wanted to go out and be a normal teenager.

Tom Daley needed to retake his dive at the 2012 Games after being distracted by flashes
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Tom Daley needed to retake his dive in 2012 after being distracted by flashesCredit: Getty Images
Tom Daley still won bronze for his dive but was scared to compete again
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Tom Daley still won bronze for his dive but said he was demotivated afterCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Tom Daley complains he was put off his dive by flashing photography
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Tom Daley complains he was put off his dive by flashing photographyCredit: PA:Press Association
Tom Daley said he was scared to dive again after the traumatic incident in 2012
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Tom Daley said he was scared to dive again after the traumatic incident in 2012Credit: PA:Press Association

"I’m scared every time I dive. It’s human nature when you have a 10m drop into the water.
"If you’re not scared, you should be worried because that’s when you make mistakes.
"You need that adrenaline pumping through you. If you don’t you’ll hurt yourself. Then you’re even more scared, so it’s a bit of a vicious circle."

Daley is confirmed for Team GB's diving team next month and will compete in the 10m and 10m synchronised.

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