OLYMPIC champion Matthew Mitcham has made an ominous return to form which will make British hopeful Tom Daley’s chances of winning a medal all the more difficult.
Mitcham has suffered from injury for the past year but returned at the Australian trials and secured perfect 10s from all seven judges on one of his dives to post a plus-550 score.
That performance would have been enough to beat Daley at last month’s World Series event in Beijing, when the British teenager took silver behind world champion Qiu Bo.
“It looks like everything I’m doing is starting to work and fall into place,” Mitcham said. “I’m starting to dive like the old me again.
“It is the first time since my injury last year that I have dived with no pain.”
Mitcham won gold in the 10m platform in Beijing, but his preparation for London has been undermined by a stomach injury suffered last April.
The 24-year-old made a return to international competition at February’s World Cup meet at the London Aquatics Centre but failed to make the final.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here