Sport: Tom Daley becomes diving world champion

The 15-year-old diver launches himself from the 10m platform at the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

Daley became the national Under-18 champion when aged just 10 and the European senior champion when aged 14. He also finished seventh at the Olympics last year ... Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

He returned to form with a personal best of 554.90 when he won the Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix in May ... a result which boosted his hopes of a medal at the world champs Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Daley's British team-mates cheer him on Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

But a lower degree of difficulty in his dives compared to his older rivals makes it difficult for Daley to score highly Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Daley is placed fourth with two rounds to go in Rome, but goes on to score eight perfect 10s from his two final dives ... Photograph: KERIM OKTEN/EPA

Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham fails to produce anything spectacular at the climax and slips out of the medal hunt ... Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

... meanwhile Qui Bo's poor entry on his last dive relegates him to the silver medal position and lifts Daley to an unexpected gold Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

The teenager can scarcely believe his achievement Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Daley gets his hands on the medal Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters