Why was Tom Daley allowed to compete in the Olympics?

Question

I'm a huge fan of Tom Daley, but at age 14 why was he allowed to compete? If the Chinese gymnasts were too young and had to pretend to be 16, how was he allowed to compete?

Answer 1

GYMNASTICS IS THE ONLY SPORT THAT HAS THE AGE REGULATION. THE OTHER SPORTS I BELIEVE AGE DOES NOT MATTER.

Answer 2

He said that his talent was spotted at a diving club and from there he competed in competitions and he is the best diver in his age group in this country and also in the senior diving championships !!

From there he was picked for the olympics .. If your a bid fan and im not doubting you .. i think you shud no that !!

Answer 3

i think it was due his sport as he was diving i think it was ok  

Answer 4

That's a good question, I hadn't thought of that.

Maybe they have different age limits for different events, but I don't really see how that makes sense.  He seems very mature for his age, though

Answer 5

Good question...I wondered that myself.

Answer 6

Because he qualified to compete.

Answer 7

It's simple, there is an age limit in gymnastics but not in Diving. The same way that there are two bronze medals in boxing (for beaten semi-finalists) but not in fencing where there is a bronze medal play-off.

Elizabeth - you must be wrong as Tom Daley's birtday was in May so he's not 15 until 2009.

Answer 8

its only in certain events that you have to be over 16 like gymnastics!! the chinese had a 15 yr old girl in the diving too and was allowed to compete like daly!!!!

Answer 9

was he 16? anyway he was the best we have . as he qualified in our pre training qualifyers. god help us lol

Answer 10

Different events have different age limits.

In diving you have to be 14 or turn 14 during the year the olympics are held. Tom turned 14 in May so he could compete.

Answer 11

Different sports are different!

No one has pretended to be any age in any other sport... it's just what the Americans like to say, but this has not been proven at all.  

Answer 12

Because the International Diving Governing Body allows 14 year olds to compete in the Olympics. The IOC only organizes the Olympics and plans for future events. The USOC funds and trains it's athletes for the Olympics.

Answer 13

Tom Daley was able to compete because he's a diver and not a gymnast.

In diving you must turn 15 (Sorry typo that should be 14) in the year the Olympics are held in this case (2008).

Thomas Daley birth date - 21st of May, 1994.

The age rules, if any are required, are set by the International Federation for each sport.

Answer 14

He was allowed to compete this year because he turned 14 (or was it 15? ) this year.

Answer 15

Only gymnastics requires you to be 16

Most of the other events have an age limit of 14 though

xo