British diver Tom Daley, 30, announced yesterday that he’s retiring from diving. He made the announcement after recently winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. 

That medal was his fifth, after previously winning a gold and three bronzes across a career that included five Olympic games. 

He is widely recognized as one of the most successful gay athletes of all time.

Daley came out via a YouTube video in December 2013. He revealed he’d fallen in love with another man. A few months later, it emerged that the man was Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. 

Four years later, in 2018, Daley and Black married. One year after that, in 2018, they welcomed their son, Robbie, born via a surrogate. A second son, Phoenix Rose, arrived last year. 

“You did it, Tom. You did it all”

Husband Black was among those to pay tribute to Daley yesterday with a heartfelt, powerful tribute on Instagram. 

“It has been the honor of my life to be by your side on this magnificent journey, Tom. You are a shining example that true warriors can also have true hearts,” Black said.

“As you now hang up your trunks, I will deeply miss supporting your ‘impossible’ diving dreams in whatever small ways I could over the past 10+ years, and screaming like a mad man as you turned every single one of those dreams into reality.

“I also feel certain you have a long list of new ‘impossible’ dreams, and I will be there by your side all the way, baby.

“For now, I am going to look back with joy and love (and more than a few tears) at some old photos of the early days when I first had the tremendous good fortune to witness a warrior fight to achieve the ‘impossible.’

“You did it, Tom. You did it all. I love you so much.”

After winning gold in Tokyo in 2021, Daley took a two-year break from diving. Many thought he would not return. However, he says that taking his son Robbie to see the Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs changed his mind. 

His son, then five, said he’d love to see his dad dive again at an Olympics (the youngster watched the Tokyo win on TV but was too young to remember it). Daley decided to try out for Paris. He won silver in the men’s 10m synchronized dive, alongside new diving partner Noah Williams. 

Daley gets emotional

Yesterday, Daley became emotional when asked about his decision to retire by the BBC when he disembarked the Eurostar train in London. 

 “I’m really happy with how everything’s gone,” Daley said, fighting back tears. 

“It’s always hard when you say goodbye to your sport. Lots of things to process, but I think it’s the right time. This year felt like such a bonus and I got to compete in front of my family, my kids. I got to be flagbearer. So yeah, bucket list ticked off on every occasion.”

As for his immediate retirement plans, Daley said: “I want to be with my family. I’m really excited to be able to spend some time with them and just be able to feel a bit normal for a couple of days.”

Whatever he does next, here’s hoping he continues to document his life via his social media. He delighted many fans yesterday by posting a video of himself and fellow Team GB divers dancing to “Apple” by Charli XCX.

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