He started out swimming, but another sport soon caught his eye.

When he was nine, Liam decided he wanted to dive.

The now 14-year-old has been at it for four years, training five days a week with the Hunter Diving Squad at Lambton Pool.

When asked if climbing to the top of the diving tower made him nervous, Liam shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not afraid of heights," he said. "I've been doing it for so long that I'm used to it. I just get up there, clear my mind and jump."

It is this confidence that helped Liam rank third in his age group in NSW for diving this year.

However, diving stardom has not come easy for Liam, who was dealt a setback in 2011.

Just weeks after qualifying for his first national competition at the age of 11, Liam broke his collar bone in a scooter accident and had to forfeit.

After a few months of training, Liam was back on the springboard.

Since then he has competed in school, state and national events and was picked for the Diving NSW country development squad three years running.

In March, Liam placed second in the 14/15 years boys' platform and three-metre events at the NSW Age Diving Championships.

He then went on to finish fifth in the 14 years boys' springboard at the School Sport Australia competition in July.

To date, one of Liam's most prized possessions is his school sporting blues award - the highest sporting recognition at this level - which he received last year at St Pius X High School.

Liam also received a $500 sports scholarship from Charlton federal MP Pat Conroy's office earlier this month.