The intruder has been released to appeal against his sentence

Ron Bensimhon was convicted in Athens of trespassing and disturbing public order after his stunt on Monday.

"He has appealed... and was released without bail," an official said. He was also fined 300 euros (�200).

He carried out the prank to advertise an online gaming site, whose address he had inked across his torso.

Bensimhon managed to evade tight security before leaping from the 3m board screaming "I love you" in the middle of the men's synchronised diving event.

His intervention seemed to put several divers off - the Chinese pair leading the event produced a no dive in their final effort and plummeted to last place.

The 31-year-old Canadian said he had not intended to disrupt the competition.

However, the online casino he was advertising said he is a serial prankster who had carried out a similar caper at the World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund in March.

Security was ordered to be tightened at all Olympic venues after the intrusion.