Matthew Dixon 'just can't wait' for the Commonwealth Games

He's only 17 but Plymouth diver Matthew Dixon is already a veteran of the Commonwealth Games, having competed in Glasgow four years ago.

This time though Matthew says he has a great chance of success. He goes to next week's games in Australia as British Diving Champion.

A silver in synchro at the British Diving Championships in Plymouth followed up with a gold in the individual 10m platform were enough to take Matthew Dixon to the Commonwealth Games, to compete in both events.

It helped that he was competing in his home swimming pool surrounded by his family.

Matthew's talents were spotted when he was still in primary school. Credit: ITV West Country

Matthew was spotted from his gymnastic abilities at Primary School when he was just six and asked to join Plymouth Diving. He got good really quickly and it helped that he had the inspiration of the club's elite athletes, Tom Daley, Sarah Barrow and Tonia Couch to look up to. They were there to support him too when he was picked, aged just 14 to go to the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

At just 14, Matthew competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Credit: PA

Matthew spends more than 20 hours a week in training at Plymouth's Life Centre. He's had to get used to a new coach as Alex Rochas took over the reins at Plymouth Diving with the departure of Andy Banks to Australia.

Matthew has to fit in his training around his studies, but his specialist sports school, Plymouth Studio School is the perfect place for him to develop both his sporting excellence and his academics.

But now those studies are having to take a bit of a backward seat as Matthew concentrates on the Commonwealth Games.

The teenager says he just can't wait for the Commonwealth Games. Credit: ITV West Country

Matthew Dixon trains closely with another teenager, Aidan Heslop, at the Plymouth Life Centre but he'll be competing against him at the Commonwealth Games.

It will be England against Wales at Gold Coast 2018:

Here's Jacquie Bird's report on the rising star: