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

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.

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 Times magazine: “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.

“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.