TOM DALEY is looking forward to defending his European title and revisiting the scene of another great triumph for the city diving star, who returns to competition next month.

August certainly promises to be a hectic month for Plymouth Diving's world champion, who is coming back to action following a back injury which ruled him out of last month's British Championships.

First up for Daley

(right)

are the European Aquatic Championships, in Budapest, which open on August 4.

Following the Europeans, the Plymouth College student, who has just finished taking his GCSEs, will take part in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Daley no sooner finishes with that tournament and he will be heading off to Tucson for the World Junior Championships, while the Commonwealth Games in October are also on his horizon.

At the European Championships, the 16-year-old plans to compete in three events — the men's individual 10m platform, the synchronised version with dive partner Max Brick and also a team pairing competition with Rebecca Gallantree.

Daley goes into the individual event as defending champion of the title he won in Holland in 2008, when, as a fearless 13-year-old on the highest of boards, he beat all-comers.

The European crown was Daley's first senior international title and gave him the added kudos of becoming the youngest European platform champion in the sport's history.

Over the coming weeks, Daley will also be trialling the higher and therefore tougher dive tariffs, which he has been working on with his Plymouth and Team GB coach Andy Banks.

Ahead of the Euros, Daley will spend 12 days at a training camp in Rome, the city where, last year, he added the world title to his CV.

Banks is anxious his double champion and Olympian concentrates and focuses on perfecting his new dives with the 2012 Games in London firmly in mind.

Daley, the competitor, wants to do both and told Herald Sport: "The European Championships are very special to me and I shall be doing my best to hold on to my title.

"It was my first senior title and I remember winning the Europeans and likewise the Worlds very well.

"Realistically, I know I've got to focus on my new dives — getting those right are my top priority.

"When I was competing at last year's World Championships, I was at the lower end of the dive tariffs — now I'm at the equal hardest.

"That has meant a lot of hard work over the past few months with Andy and lots of hours practising.

"I was disappointed and frustrated at being injured and missing the British champs at the end of June.

"But I've been having loads of physio and rehabilitation and the back's fine now.

"Competition is what I thrive on and I'll have plenty to keep me occupied this month."