Diver Daley makes a big splash with fans as he covers up in a kilt
HIS work gear normally involves a skimpy pair of swimming trunks.
But diving star Tom Daley went overboard yesterday after receiving a new outfit to celebrate his latest sporting role. The teenager was more than happy to jump in at the deep end after being told he would have to ditch his swimming shorts and don a kilt after becoming the latest ambassador for next year’s Commonwealth Games.
Much to the delight of hundreds of fans, the double Commonwealth and Olympic medallist then went on a walkabout to give the new plaid a test drive.
The 19-year-old received his first-ever kilt – in the Glasgow 2014 tartan – from its designer, Aamir Mehmood. The Shawlands Academy pupil barely had time to hand over the garment before Daley was proudly parading it in front of the crowds who had turned up to greet him at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket venue.
Amid a chorus of screams normally reserved for pop stars such as One Direction, Daley answered questions from a packed hall on topics including his plans for the future.
He joins fellow athletes including Sir Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Rebecca Adlington in promoting the Glasgow Games.
He also took part in a dance routine with official Glasgow 2014 mascot, Clyde, before meeting the character’s creator, 13-year-old Beth Gilmour of Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire.
Earlier in the day he abseiled from the iconic Finnieston Crane, where he got a bird’s eye view of some of the nearby Games venues including the SECC and the new SSE Hydro Arena.
He said: ‘I really loved my first experience of Glasgow – abseiling from the Finnieston Crane was incredible. I met hundreds of my fans. What a friendly city. What a welcome. It’s obvious that the atmosphere here for the Games will be awesome and I can’t wait to be part of it all.’
Daley added: ‘I know there’s just one week for people to get their ticket applications in and I’d urge everyone to be part of this once in a lifetime event.’