Tom Daley, the 30-year-old British diving champion, has officially announced his retirement from competitive diving after securing a silver medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This marks the end of an illustrious career spanning five Olympic Games, which began with his debut at the age of 14 in Beijing 2008.Daley’s Olympic journey culminated in a total of five medals, including a gold in the synchronized 10-meter platform event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. His decision to compete in Paris was influenced by his eldest son’s request to see him dive once more, adding a poignant note to his final Olympic appearance.In an interview with British Vogue, Daley expressed mixed emotions about his retirement, stating, ‘It feels very, very surreal. I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics’. He added, ‘It’s the right time to call it a day’.Looking ahead, Daley plans to focus on his family and pursue other interests, including expanding his knitting business, ‘Made With Love’. He has also signed up for a course at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, indicating a potential career shift into fashion design.Throughout his career, Daley has been recognized not only for his athletic achievements but also for his advocacy for LGBTI+ rights, being one of the most prominent athletes to publicly come out as gay. His retirement marks the end of an era in British diving, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance, achievement, and inspiration.
Key points
- Tom Daley announces retirement after winning silver at Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Daley’s career spanned five Olympic Games, yielding five medals including gold in Tokyo 2021.
- He plans to focus on family and pursue interests in fashion and knitting post-retirement.
- Daley is recognized for both his athletic achievements and LGBTI+ advocacy.
