Tom Daley has announced his retirement from diving after winning five medals at the Olympics. The 30-year-old athlete now has medals in every colour after winning silver with Noah Williams in the men’s synchronized 10m platform in the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
Calling it a day, the athlete said: “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 flag bearer. So yeah, the bucket list ticked off on every occasion.”
He added: “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.”
Daley’s athletic background
Daley, who made his Olympics debut in 2008 at the age of 14, won bronze in the 10m platform diving in London 2012 and Tokyo in 2021. He also won medals in the men’s synchronized 10m platform diving — the bronze in Rio 2016, the gold in Tokyo, and silver in Paris.
After his gold in the synchronized 10m platform with Matty Lee in Tokyo, he had all but retired from competition until he made the decision to fly back to Paris to compete in front of his two kids.
“It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive… But I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time. It’s the right time to call it a day,” Daley admitted.
After competing in five Games, Daley leaves the Olympics as the most awarded diver for Team GB.
Source: BBC