Tom Daley Will Recapture Olympic Form at World Championships in Barcelona

Since Tom Daley earned a bronze medal for the United Kingdom in his second Olympic Games in 2012, it appeared that the now 19-year-old was destined for even greater things given his youth. 

However, the 2013 season hasn't been nearly as successful as one might have hoped for the young Englishman. 

The season started out promising with Daley winning the 10-meter platform event at the World Series in Edinburgh. Despite telling BBC Sport that he lacked motivation after the Olympics, he was in top form as he beat the four-man field in the first big event of the season.  

However, that would serve as the highlight of his season thus far. Daley suffered a torn tricep injury that would keep him out of three grand prix events in Mexico and the United States and prevented him from defending his 10-meter platform European Championship in June, per Ben Riley Smith of the Telegraph. 

Returning to top form after just missing out on some of the biggest diving events of the season is no small task, but Daley is no ordinary diver. 

As coach Andy Banks told the Telegraph, he's made great strides in his recovery and should put on a show in Barcelona:

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While I believe there is no such thing as luck, just preparation, this time the preparation is a bit out of the window – but he is Tom. He’s got back in the pool, and put the strength and conditioning bit back together and he actually isn’t looking too bad. He is diving well, he is on the 10m and there are no problems.

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You can't put too much stock in what Daley's own coach says. It's unlikely he would say anything that wouldn't boost the confidence of his athlete, but Daley's ability to rally from a lack of motivation after the Olympic Games is a strong indicator that he will be back in top form. 

Daley told the Telegraph that this World Championship event was among the first things that crossed his mind when he suffered his injury:

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My injury was quite a shock to me and I was a bit deflated...The first thing that came into my head was the Barcelona World Championships. Was I going to get back to fitness by then? It’s been pretty close to the competition to actually start getting back up onto the 10m board, but I’m just hoping to go out there and do six solid dives.

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Daley and Daniel Goodfellow will represent Great Britain in the 10-meter platform starting on Saturday when the preliminary and semifinal will take place, with the final occurring on Sunday.