It is widely assumed that the media in general sensationalises everything just to get the readership. Admittedly the BBC is usually straight in their reporting.

However, in the case of the Twitter abuse towards Tom Daley, I really think that the BBC has played this issue down (link to article).

After coming fourth in the men’s synchronised 10m platform diving event on Monday, the 18-year-old received a message telling him he had let down his father.

Is the only tweet they mention. In fact, over the course of about 30 minutes (I can’t check for sure – the user’s account has been suspended – I did see the tweets though) there were a number of tweets full of profanity including the c word, the f word and some other swearing that I am not sure I even understood. I believe that this (along with subsequent tweets to other Twitter users) were the major issue.

I thought that the tweets that the kid (yes, kid. He was acting like a 12 year old that learnt the words for the first time)sent weree verging on harrassment. If he had been speaking about me or my family using such words I would expect him to be arrested too.

Tom Daley has had it hard for the last few months, losing his Dad last year whilst trying to train for the Olympics. Whether he won the diving or came 15th doesn’t matter. He is doing his best and is doing Britain proud representing us at the games. Same goes for all of Team GB as far as I am concerned.

As Pete Waterfield said (on Twitter)

For all the haters out there, come do what we do then have ur say