Roared on by a sell-out crowd of 17,500, the 18-year-old from Plymouth delivered six dives of consistent excellence to finish behind surprise winner David Boudia of America and silver medallist Qiu Bo of China, the reigning world champion and huge favourite coming into the final.

Daley was actually leading going into the last round but admitted he was delighted to claim the bronze medal that his father would love to have seen.

"I know that if he was here he would be very proud," said Daley, who is Britain's first individual diving medallist for 52 years.

"It's really tough not having him here, but I'm so glad to come out with something to show for it after all of the hard work we put in together.

"The main aim here was to get a medal so to get Olympic bronze is amazing."

Gold medallist David Boudia of the United States looks on as bronze medallist Tom Daley receives his medal on the podium

It was an impressive result for Daley after he and diving partner Pete Waterfield finished fourth in the synchronised diving event and after Daley scraped through the semi-final in a disappointing 15th place.

But Daley gave a glimpse of his fine form this season in the semi-final, only to save the very best until it really mattered in the evening final to finish just behind the American and Chinese athletes.

While David Boudia celebrated intimately with his coach Adam Soldati and teammate Nicholas McCrory, Daley's friends and family threw him into the pool and jumped in afterwards to celebrate a famous medal.

Tom Daley's coach Andy Banks jumps in the pool with teammates to join in the celebrations

"To be honest, I was very nervous and I went in to it with a do-or-die mentality," said Daley.

"I put everything into it.

"I was in first place going into the last round, but didn't have the degree of difficulty I needed to hold on for gold."

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