World Aquatics Championships: Tom Daley still dreams of Olympic gold

Diver Tom Daley believes he can still achieve his lifelong "dream" of becoming an Olympic champion after his stunning World Championship title.

Many felt his best chance had gone after his shock semi-final elimination at Rio 2016 and subsequent injuries.

However, Daley beat Rio 2016 champion Aisen Chen of China with a stunning final routine to secure victory in a dramatic world 10m final on Saturday.

"An Olympic gold is the one thing I'm yet to win and it's my dream," he said.

The diver - who is now 23 - admits his Rio Olympic heartache was "devastating" and the "lowest point" of his career, but insists that world success will not make him complacent.

"Yes my score (590.95) would have been enough to win the Olympics last year, but if you ran this competition again today there's no guarantee of the same outcome," he said.

"I can't take it [victory] for granted and I'm going to go away and work twice as hard because getting to the top is hard, but staying there is harder."

• Tom Daley wins gold in 10m platform
• Daley & Goodfellow fourth in 10m synchro

The diver's last individual World Championship title was secured back in 2009 in Rome, when Daley's tearful father gate-crashed the post-event news conference to demand a "hug from my boy."

Rob Daley died in 2011 and his son was keen to reflect on the moment they shared together eight years earlier.

"This is my first press conference as a world champion since 2009 when it was a bit emotional with my dad," he said with a smile.

"I hope he would be proud of me today."

Daley invokes 'spirit of 2009' to win gold

Although Daley became a household name by competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the age of 14, it was not until 12 months later - when he won his maiden world title - that he became an internationally renowned diver.

His fame and celebrity status now extends around the globe and that has brought pressure which Daley admits he is only now beginning to understand how to handle.

• Is Daley ready for the long climb back to the top?

"Back in 2009 no-one expected me to win and ever since then I've been chasing gold and thinking about trying to win at every single event," said Daley. "But after the stress of Rio that changed.

"I just wanted to get back to diving because I love it, like I used to in 2009."