TEAM GB’s Olympic hero Tom Daley has confirmed his retirement from diving, following a standout performance at the Paris Olympics, where he clinched the fifth medal of his illustrious career. At 30 years old, Daley feels that the time is right to end his competitive journey.
Daley’s decision comes after a summer where he added a silver medal to his collection, which already includes a gold from Tokyo 2020 and three bronze medals. Reflecting on his decision, Daley shared his emotions with Vogue: “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.”
This summer marked Daley’s fifth Olympic Games, a journey that began with his debut at Beijing 2008, where he was just 14 years old. His remarkable career began to take shape with a bronze medal at London 2012, capturing the nation’s admiration. He followed this with another bronze in Rio 2016 and then achieved both gold and silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games. This year, he won silver in Paris alongside his partner Noah Williams.
Daley had been contemplating his retirement before the Paris Games. He admitted, “I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics. There was a lot of pressure and expectation. I was eager for it to be done… but when I walked out and saw my husband [Lance], my kids [Robbie and Phoenix], and my friends and family in the audience, I was like, you know what? This is exactly why I did this. I’m here, and no matter what happens in the competition itself, I’m going to be happy.”
With his retirement, the diving world bids farewell to one of its most celebrated athletes, whose career has inspired many and brought significant success to Team GB.
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