Tom Daley, who won silver in the men’s synchronised 10m platform with partner Noah Williams at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, has confirmed his retirement from diving in an emotional statement.
The 30-year-old, who is married to Dustin Lance Black, has won five medals at five Olympic games and became Britain’s youngest ever Olympian at just 14 back in 2008.
Daley was also the first Team GB diver to win four Olympic medals, adding a fifth in Paris with a first silver, before calling an end to his career on Monday, August 12.
Speaking to Vogue, Daley said: ‘It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive.
Daley, who was overcome with emotion, also spoke with the BBC and said: ‘[It’s] Hard to talk about. I am (so proud of myself) It’s really hard to talk about. Have to hang it up at some time, but I’m very proud.
‘I wanna be with my family and I’m very excited to spend some time with them and feel normal for a couple of days. It’s just very overwhelming. I didn’t mean for it to be timed like this, but I feel very proud of my career.
‘Right now it’s obviously a lot and I’m really happy with how everything’s gone it’s just hard when you say good bye to your sport.
‘Lots of things to process but I think it’s the right time. This year felt like such a bonus. I got to compete in front of my kids and I got to be flag-bearer, so yeah – bucket list ticked off.
‘I like to think they’re (his family) very proud of me. I am happy, it’s just hard to talk when you have loved something so much.
‘Thank you! The support I’ve had from Great Britain has been so incredible and thank you to everyone who’s been there with me throughout all this. It’s the end of an era, I can look back through my 23 years and be very proud!’.
Daley became Britain’s youngest ever Olympian at just 14, when he competed at Beijing 2008. His crowning moment was winning a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
