TOM Daley was overjoyed to claim an Olympic bronze medal in a dramatic men’s 10m platform diving final on Saturday night.

The 18-year-old was in the gold medal position with three dives to go, but finished in third behind American David Boudia and pre-Games favourite Qui Bo from China.

But Daley, who’s been training at Southend’s Garon Park diving centre before and during London 2012, was delighted after he claimed Great Britain’s only diving medal of the Games.

“I’m over the moon with the way it all went,” he said.

“To finally have something to show for all the hard work, dedication and sacrifices I've had to make – it feels so good to have a medal right now.

“It was an amazing moment after all the things I’ve been through.”

And after collecting his medal, Daley paid tribute to his late father Rob, who had a profound impact in his career before he died of cancer last year.

He said: “I really wish my dad was there to see the competition. I know how much it meant to him.

“I know that if he was there he would definitely be proud. It was great to have my family there and to kind of have him there in spirit.”

Daley, who missed out on a medal with synchro partner Peter Waterfield last week, admitted the pressure of being one of Britain’s most high profile medal hopes ahead of the London Games had been tough to handle.

He said: “I’ve been secretly telling myself the pressure is fine and it's all good. But deep down the pressure has been so much.

“I was in the call room, waiting to go out into the competition, and my heart was going. I was thinking, you know what, this is it. I’ve just got to go out and enjoy it. I can’t do any more than I’ve done. I’ve got no regrets coming into the competition.

“Although the pressure has been tough, the British public have just been so supportive.”

Daley looked elated as the final results were shown on Saturday night in front of a 17,500-capacity crowd at the Aquatics Centre.

And he celebrated by jumping in the pool with diving teammates Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow, who have also been training and competing in Southend over the past 18 months.

Daley says he’s now set his sights on Olympic glory in Rio de Janeiro in four years’ time.

“Most people peak in diving at about 22, that’s just in time for the Rio Olympics so that’ll hopefully be my performance peak,” he said.

“I’ve got four more years, it’s about building strength, building consistency and getting even better.”