Burghfield diver smashes British records at Olympics games

It has been a remarkable journey for the Burghfield Common teenager, who contracted Epstein Barr virus and ruptured his spleen during the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2009.
The 19-year-old was given a five per cent chance of survival, but after four days in a coma and weeks in hospital he was well enough to return home.
Fast forward three years and Mears, ranked 48th in the 3m springboard event before the games, competed in the final on Tuesday following a superb performance in the preliminary round and a personal best in the semi finals.
But Mears had more records in his sights, scoring 100.70 for his last dive - the first time a Britain has scored more than 100 from a 3m springboard dive.
The former Willink School pupil finished ninth out of 18 in the final - the best result in the event from a Britain since 1984.
“I’ll keep that moment with me for the rest of my life,” Mears told the Newbury Weekly News from the Olympic village this week.
“If I was told that one day I would be in the Olympic final I wouldn’t have believed you.
“You’re competing against the best in the world but I felt comfortable in their company.
“I wasn’t expecting to make the final but I really stepped up to the mark.”
Last week Mears finished fifth alongside Nick Robinson-Baker in the 3m synchro final during his first Olympics but now he is hungry for more.
“I’m looking ahead to Rio. I’m only 19 so I’ve got a long future ahead of me,” he added.
Mears’ family and friends have made several trips from West Berkshire to East London to see their loved-one compete during the past two weeks.
“We are so proud of him,” said Mears’ mum, Katy.
“He managed to produce his best ever performance under immense pressure and when it counted.
“It’s a great story. Three years ago none of us ever considered this would happen.”