Beijing 24 Feb - Comments from finalists of the men's 10m platform event.

Matthew Mitcham (AUS) - 5th place

On the competition and his performance:
"This is really a high-level competition, and even one tiny mistake could end your chance. My entry was as I clean as l could make it. It was the better performance of the other athletes that made this competition so tough. I was happy with that."

On the venue:
"The Olympic pool is fantastic. The brand new springboard is soft, not like some other new springboards which are hard. Also I thought the blue roof and blue water would make it tough to focus on the same spot during dives but it's actually fine. It's harder to do so in some outdoor pool. I am looking forward to competing in this pool again in the Olympic Games."

On his preparation for both Springboard and Platform events:
"I will attend both disciplines in the Olympic Games, and I spend equal time training for them. It's not a problem for me. About training, I will spend 2 afternoons on platform, 2 afternoons on springboard and 1 afternoon on combined training. Maybe taking part in both will make competitions long for me, but I feel fit."

On his dives:
"I tried new dives this time so I reduced the DD of my dives next time in Shenzhen. I think I will choose newer dives."

Juan Uran Salazar (COL) - 6th place

On his performance:
"I am satisfied with my performance today, but there were still some problems with my entry."

On his expectations before the competition:
"I did not aim to win a medal, just to come here to improve myself and test my ability."

On his future plans:
"I will continue training and competing. In the ten days after this competition, I will go to Canada to train for the South American Championships which will be held in Brazil. Then I will go back to Columbia."

Peter Waterfield (GBR) - 8th place

On his performance and the result:
"The result is OK, however I was a little bit disappointed with that. I felt good, everything went on well, but my score was lower than in the semifinals where I executed the same dives. The third dive was my worst one."

On his expectations for the 2008 Olympic Games:
"I am training 6 hours per day for the Olympic Games. I will try out more difficult dives and my goal is to win a medal. I will come back."

On the atmosphere in the venue:
"I didn't feel nervous, the crown made me excited."

Lin Yue (CHN) - 4th place

On his performance:
"it was just average, due to having a little pressure from competing in my own country. But I showed my level after my training. I didn't do well on the last dive, though I tried my best. It was not because I was trying hard to catch up in terms of the score."

On Sascha Klein (GEE):
"She did fantastically today. I had met him before, when he was already a good diver. Now he is even better."

On the crowd:
"The atmosphere of the crowd was phenomenal. It was the first time I've seen spectators being so supportive."

Thomas Daley (GBR) - 7th place

On his goal during the competition:
"My goal was to get into the top 18 and qualify for the Olympics, but placing seventh is amazing."

On competing:
"I love to compete. I just go out and enjoy myself."

On balancing diving and being a kid:
"Diving always comes first, I sacrifice a lot but when I can I hang out with my friends."

On his father:
"I just saw my dad and he gave me the biggest hug ever."

On his fourth dive:
"Sometimes I miss a dive, it is unfortunate that I missed it but it happens to every diver."