Mitcham has been plagued by injury for the past year but attracted perfect 10s from all seven judges on one of his dives to post a plus-550 score.

That would have been enough to beat Daley at last month's World Series event in Beijing, when the British teenager claimed silver behind world champion Qiu Bo.

No pain

Mitcham said: "It looks like everything I'm doing is starting to work and fall into place. I'm starting to dive like the old me again.

"It is the first time since my injury last year that I have dived with no pain."

Mitcham broke the Chinese domination at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he won gold in the 10m platform but his preparation for London has been undermined by a stomach injury suffered last April.

The 24-year-old made a return to international competition at February's World Cup meet at the London Aquatics Centre but failed to make the final.