Foley gives Brits a medals springboard

Leon Taylor and Peter Waterfield came fourth in the ten-metre platform synchronised event, while the veteran springboard pair of Tony Ally and Mark Shipman were seventh.

Ally was the team's only individual finalist in the three-metre event, finishing 12th.

But according to Foley, there has been a transformation in the mindset of the British divers since then.

He added: 'They're now far more competitive.

'Every individual is capable of making a final and we've never had that before in Britain. It used to be the case they were just happy to get their ticket to the Olympics. Now they want to perform and win medals.'

With just two of the seven-strong squad making their Olympic debuts in Athens, Britain has one of the most experienced teams in the competition. Sheffield divers Ally and Taylor will be at their third Games, while Jane Smith, Shipman and Waterfield will be at their second Olympics.

Tandi Gerrard and Tracey Richardson are the squad's only newcomers.

'We have big hopes for this team,' said Foley.

'While others are losing their best divers we've hung on to ours.' Foley also picked the Commonwealth Games in 2002 as a turning point for British diving with victories in the ten metres platform for Waterfield, silvers for Leon Taylor and Tony Ally and two bronzes for Jane Smith.

'Manchester was great preparation for what we have ahead of us,' he insisted.