Leeds diver Matty Lee accepts trying to secure a medal in his first World Championships might be unrealistic, but his confidence is growing when it comes to reaching next summer’s Olympics in Rio.
Lee may have won gold in the men’s platform at the European Games in Baku but he hasn’t allowed himself to be carried away in the build-up to the biggest event of his blossoming career.
The 17-year-old will take part in the 10m platform and the synchro alongside James Denny in Kazan, Russia, and a top three finish in the team event and a top 12 standing in the individual competition would secure a dream trip to Brazil next year.
Lee said: “I hope to go to Rio. It is not far away now and every time I think about it, it is obviously getting closer and closer and I feel more positive about my chances of making the Olympics squad.
“The World Championship is a great chance for Great Britain to qualify for the Olympics. From a personal point of view, I think I have the best chance of qualifying in the synchronised diving with my partner James as I think the 10m individual is at such a high standard.
“Rio is certainly already on my mind and I really hope I can go and the World Championships will be a great help when it comes to preparing for that.
“I was shocked when I found out I was going because I have always watched the World Championships on TV.
“I am looking forward to competing with the world’s best and I’m looking forward to what will be my biggest competition so far.
“I’m not expecting to medal because I am young and it is my first senior World Championships but I want to use it to get as much experience as possible.
“It will be a long competition so it will help me get used to that ahead of competitions like the Olympics.
“It will be great preparation for Rio as most of the divers will be the same and it will be a similar format.”
The sixth form student at Notre Dame School was part of a GB team which finished top the diving table in Baku and third overall.
One of the other medallists in Russia was Lee’s sporting hero Tom Daley and the City of Leeds diver is already reaping the benefits of spending time with the 21-year-old who helped revolutionised the sport in this country.
Lee said: “Tom is such a nice person, he is a great role model and I do look up to him.
“He hasn’t given me lots of advice about diving as such, it is more just talking about all kinds of things but he has talked about things like the World Championships and events like that.
“He is most definitely someone I have always looked up to. Without him, diving would not be what it is today when you consider things like funding and exposure.
“He is a great role model and all of the younger guys recognise that and look up to him. We are all thankful for what he has done for our sport.”