Daley through to platform final

Tom Daley bounced back from the shock of his near-exit to qualify for the final of the men's platform.

The 18-year-old diver showed his credentials to win a medal with a solid display to qualify fourth with a score of 521.10. And after the scare of the preliminary round, when Daley came through in 15th, his morning's work offered plenty of reassurance his confidence had not taken a decisive blow.

He showed signs of his quality and a willingness to fight when he secured his highest score of the semi-final on his back three-and-a-half somersault.

The Plymouth-diver returned to the Aquatics Centre less than 12 hours after his display on Friday night.

He started with more surety grabbing 7.5s for an opening back two-and-a-half somersaults with two-and-a-half twists that he badly over-rotated in the first round. It was only good enough for ninth though and he remained there after attracting nines on his favoured, but easiest, inward leap.

Eights followed for his armstand but by halfway the Chinese already had both posted 10s to stamp their authority on the contest.

Daley was finding it tough to reply with a big-scoring dive and got more eights for his hardest forward four-and-a-half somersaults.

With two dives remaining he was safely placed in seventh but with his back three-and-a-half somersaults to come some nerves remained inside the Aquatics Centre.

There need not have been as Daley responded in fine style with 8.5s to grab his highest points score of the morning and virtually assure his place in the next round.

He finished confidently with nines to ensure he can rest easier ahead of Saturday night's 8.30pm final, when all scores are wiped, and when the eyes of the host nation are set to fall on him.