Under Pressure

China claimed seven out of eight gold at the Beijing Games, all 10 gold at last year's World Championships and all eight at this year's diving World Cup in February.

Many Chinese would consider it unacceptable for Qiu to lose because China would then only take six gold in London.

"China was expected to sweep every gold before the Games," China Youth Daily sports reporter Guo Jian said.

"Now, it has lost one in the men's 3m springboard. It can't afford to lose another one. Coming home with six gold medals is like losing."

China's former diving queen Gao Min said the Chinese have some psychological disadvantages compared to foreign athletes, especially in high-difficulty dives.

"All the foreigners regard themselves as challengers, and they have the courage to undertake difficult dives," Gao said.

"It does not matter if they fail. But if they make it, they have a good chance of beating the Chinese.

"So, it's sometimes a contradiction for Chinese. If you choose to make relatively low-difficulty dives and stay consistent, you might be beaten. If you choose high-difficulty dives, you take the risk of making big mistakes."

Australian Matthew Mitcham was a great example at the Beijing Games. His last dive, which scored 112.10 points - the highest single-dive total - earned him a gold medal that had been expected to go to Chinese favorite Zhou Luxin.

Daley is also not satisfied with silver at home.

"Normally in diving, silver is gold because the Chinese dominate everything, but you never know what can happen in the Olympic Games," he said.

'Extra adrenaline rush'

Both face high expectations from their homelands.

British reports said: "London will be about an 18-year-old British platform specialist who will bring a nation to a standstill on Aug 11."

Daley, who reached the Beijing final as a 14-year-old and won the world title in 2009, was even criticized by his own federation earlier this year for his casual work ethic and glut of endorsements.

"That's all in the past now," Daley said.

"I've been training as hard as I possibly can. I've been working as hard as I can."

The diving idol explained that he views the pressure as a positive push.

"Pressure isn't a bad thing," he said. "I quite like pressure going into a competition. In a competition, divers either handle pressure or they don't. I've had pressure going into competition for a long time now, and it's something I've been able to get used to.

"For me, when you are under pressure, in theory, it should bring out the best of you because you've got that extra adrenaline rush."

Daley said it has been a tough year for him. His father died in 2011.

"Going into this competition, the only thing I can focus on is my performance," he said.

"I know all my family are going to be there, watching. (I'm) really looking forward to having my family there. It's always there in the back of your head. It would be extra special if I could do well at these Games."

Qiu faces greater pressure from his homeland. It's up to him to maintain China's top position in the event and to live up to his moniker, "Mr Full Mark".

Chinese diving manager Zhou Jihong is confident about Qiu's techniques but admitted psychology is the key to Qiu's Olympic debut.

"I'm not worried about Qiu's technique because he has mastered it," Zhou said.

"I'm just worried about whether he can stand the pressure. The Olympics are different from other tournaments. It could be a challenge for him."

Contact the writer at chenxiangfeng@chinadaily.com.cn.