British diving enemies will have to make up

After falling out spectacularly following their poor performance in the synchronised diving in Beijing, no one would be surprised if the 14-year-old British prodigy Tom Daley (pictured) and his 26-year-old partner Blake Aldridge chose never to dive together again. But Britain's diving chief, the Australian Steve Foley, believes the defeated duo will still compete together in next year's world championships in Rome.

Foley told BBC Radio 5 Live today: "I'm sure he [Aldridge] regrets lashing out that way. It's an intense competition. We expect them to line up in the world championships."

The British and foreign media have had a field day with the falling-out of Daley and Aldridge after they came last in the 10m synchronised diving finals on Monday and Aldridge blamed the youngster for the poor result.

Aldridge said: "He [Daley] was worrying about everyone and everything and that to me is really the sole reason why he didn't perform. I didn't blow anything, so I can go home happy. Unfortunately it's a partnership, you both have to be on the top of your game. I wasn't on top of my game but Tom was nowhere near the top of his."

His criticism drew an angry retort from the younger swimmer's father, Rob Daley, who was poolside for the event. "Neither of them dived their best but nobody made mistakes. It sounds like sour grapes to me.

"This was Blake's only competition and the Games are finished for him. I just hope he doesn't upset Tom because he has another to deal with in 11 days [his individual competition]. If he does, he will have me to deal with."

The squabble between the two young men was matched by a new spat between the Australians and the British following Rebecca Adlington's gold in the 400m freestyle.

Asked for his thoughts on Adlington's surprise victory, John Coates, head of the Australian Olympic Committee and an IOC member since 2001, said: "It's not bad for a country that has no swimming pools and very little soap." What on earth can he mean?