Ireland's Oliver Dingley has made history by reaching the semi-finals of the 3m individual springboard at the Rio Games.

The Yorkshire-born diver had said he was aiming to create "a whole new legacy" ahead of the Games, as he became the first Irish diver in 68 years to compete at an Olympics.

A total score of 399.80 saw him finish in 13th position in the field of 29, with the top 18 competitors progressing. The semi-finals take place at 2pm on Tuesday, with the final at 10pm.  

Dingley delivered when he needed to most, producing his best dive with his last attempt to score 78.20 and jump up to 13th from 16th overall.

That was enough to keep the 23-year-old's Rio dream alive as he carries the flame from Dubliner Eddie Heron, who went to the 1948 Games in London, and until Monday was the only Irish diver to compete at an Olympics.

Heron withdrew from the Games after the preliminary round along with his team-mates in protest over the banning of Northern Irish swimmers and Ireland has not been represented in the discipline since.

Dingley, who qualified at the Maria Lenk Stadium in February, started well with a 66.00 to go through the first round in 20th place, but that was as low as he would place throughout, moving up to 12th after a round two score of 74.40 points.

A solid score of 61.20 in round three saw him move to 14th place before heading back to 12th after a back 2 ½ somersault scored him 72 points for 273.60 points overall.

A drop for 48 points in the fifth dive saw Dingley drop down to 16th, but he finished with his best score in his final, most difficult dive, a back 2 1/2 somersault 1 ½  twists, to score 78.20 for 399.80 points overall and a place in the semi-final.

China’s Yuan Cao progressed as the top qualifier with 498.70 points while London 2012 Olympic champion Ilia Zakharov of Russia went through in 18th place on 389.90 points.