Matthew Dixon might not have competed as part of the British diving squad in Paris this year but watching his teammates bring home medals has only fuelled his desire to make it to LA 2028.

The 24-year-old already has two Commonwealth silvers and multiple European Championship titles to his name, and with a personal connection to the likes of Tom Daley, he knows exactly what it takes to be the best. 

Dixon watched Daley and Noah Williams win a brilliant bronze in the men’s synchronised 10m platform but when it comes to being inspired by diving royalty, the Plymouth native hopes to do much more than watch from the sidelines. 

“I'm a Tom Daley fan but I’m a Tom Daley friend too,” he said.

“We’re both from Plymouth so I’ve known Tom since I was really little, practically my whole diving career. He’s the GOAT of the sport, just insane. 

“He played a massive part in my growth and understanding of the sport when I first started. I was a 10m platform diver and that’s what he did so when I was younger I just wanted to be as good as he was.”

Dixon’s first foray into the diving scene began in 2006, just two years before Daley would go on to become Great Britain's second youngest male Olympian in Beijing in 2008.

Watching his friend and role model win gold in 10m synchro alongside Matty Lee is a moment Dixon will not forget, as the aspiring Olympian pays homage to the lasting impact of the ‘Tom Daley effect’.  

“Tom has been an incredible influence not just on me but a whole generation of divers,” he added.

“What he’s achieved and how he’s put the sport on the map is amazing. I can’t thank him enough to be honest. 

“I also think Tom’s a huge public figure. Having millions of followers obviously helps the sport reach larger audiences but diving is an usual sport. It’s not one that everyone can try like running or jumping. 

“Not many people can do backflips so that makes it unusual and I think people are fascinated by that. As a British group I think we put on decent performances that people want to be a part of too.”

Dixon believes Britain’s five Olympic medals prove we are a nation-to-watch and, although diving is often viewed as an individual pursuit, credits the competitive team spirit for pushing Brits to new heights.

“I think Paris has set the precedent for what’s to come with British diving,” he said.

“The plan is definitely for more medals in the future. The British team keeps improving so I can’t see why we can’t go further. 

“To be part of such a strong British cohort, you just can’t fault it. You’re with the best and when that’s the case you can only train like them and hopefully take yourself to the top too.” 

Dixon is one of 50 athletes across a multitude of sports supported by a partnership between SportsAid and Pitching In, a multimillion-pound grassroots sport programme established by Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral.

Having competed on Commonwealth, World and European stages - claiming his first Commonwealth medal aged just 13 - one challenge remains firmly on Dixon’s agenda: Olympic qualification.

“LA 2028 is one of the main things on my mind. That’s my main qualification point,” he said.

“It’s the only stage I’m yet to conquer. The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of the sport so that’s ideally the next step. 

“It would be a massive step up but I’d be proper proud to be part of the Great Britain team in LA.”

Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup.com to find out more.