British diving star Tom Daley has given a touching interview about his career, as he prepares to compete for the fifth and final time at the Olympics today.
He was only 14 years old when he made his debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Now 16 years later, Daley, aged 30, will return for his fifth Games in Paris, competing alongside Noah Williams in the men’s synchro at 10am.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he reflected on his career and personal life including the death of his father and becoming a father himself.
Daley won his first gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Afterwards, he moved to the US with his family and effectively retired from diving.
Great Britain’s Tom Daley ahead of the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform Final at the Aquatics Centre on the third day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Tom Daley was only 14 years old when he made his debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Daley won his first gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Afterwards, he moved to the US with his family and effectively retired from diving
But he announced his return after a two-year break in 2023, following a trip to the Olympic museum.
‘I think I always had my mind set on five Olympic games,’ said Daley, ‘Phoenix, our youngest son, was born in Colorado Springs which I didn’t know at the time was where the Olympic and Paralympic city and training centre is and the museum.
‘And we went to the museum before Phoenix was born and at the end of the museum they had this video on what it means to be an Olympian.
‘I remember the video finishing and of course, I was there crying.
‘Lance looked over and thought, ‘Oh, god. I know what this means’.
‘Robbie was like, ‘Papa, I want to see you dive in the Olympics’. And that was that.’
Daley grew up in the media spotlight from a young age, winning gold at the European Championships as a 13-year-old in 2008, finishing seventh in the individual event at the Olympics, aged 14, and then coming out as gay in 2013, shortly after winning his first medal at the London Games.
Reflecting on his career, Daley said he felt like a ‘tortured soul’ and his Olympic ambitions were a way to disguise feeling as though he didn’t fit in
A young and shy Tom Daley is greeted outside the school gates by a BBC camera crew
Old footage shows a young, shy, Daley being greeted by a BBC camera crew outside the school gates.
He told the crew that his ambition was to win gold at the Olympics. Looking back, the adult Daley commented: ‘Who gave that kid the audacity to have dreams that big?’
Reflecting on his career, Daley said he felt like a ‘tortured soul’ and his Olympic ambitions were a way to disguise feeling as though he didn’t fit in.
He said: ‘As a kid growing up, feeling different and feeling like I didn’t quite fit in, I always felt like I had to overachieve to disguise the part of me that I always thought was considered wrong.
‘I know how I felt in that period of time and it was like a very tortured soul.
During his early career, Daley was supported by his father, Rob (pictured), who was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died in 2011
It will be the first Olympics in front of a crowd since Rio 2016 as the Tokyo Games took place in empty stadiums due to COVID lockdowns
‘I struggled with all kinds of different things when it came to going away from home and being away like from my parents, going to unfamiliar territory.
‘I was absolutely awful at staying away from home. I used to cry and never want to stay overnight without my parents.’
During his early career, Daley was supported by his father, Rob, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died in 2011, 14 months before the London Olympics.
‘My dad was hugely dedicated to all of his kids, but in particular around my time,’ Daley said.
‘There was nothing that he wouldn’t do if it was going to help either make me feel better in training and give me a better opportunity to be able to go and compete.
‘He was there for every competition and every training session, no matter what it was.
‘To know how much he sacrificed is very special.
‘I hope that he never regretted spending that time with me, travelling the world and getting to see those competitions.
‘Now, as a parent, I feel like I have to live by his example on that as well. I so wish that he got to see me win an Olympic medal.’
Daley won bronze at London 2012 and in Rio four years later.
In 2018 he and his husband Dustin Lance Black announced the birth of their son Robbie, who was named after Daley’s father.
Their second son Phoenix was born in 2023.
Daley said: ‘Robbie likes coming to training sessions with me sometimes on a Saturday.
‘He jumped off the 3m (diving board) when he was four and he’s been really into the ‘having fun’ side of it.
‘But if I try to say, ‘oh, next time just try to get your legs together or point your toes’, he’s like, ‘Papa, I know how to do it…’
‘He’ll tell me what I need to do.’
The British diving star said that his main ambition now is to proudly dive in front of his husband and children
Tom Daley and Helen Glover, Flagbearers of Team Great Britain pose during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Tom Daley knitting as he watches the Women’s Synchronised 3m Springboard Final at the Aquatics Centre
The British diving star said that his main ambition now is to proudly dive in front of his husband and children.
It will be the first Olympics in front of a crowd since Rio 2016 as the Tokyo Games took place in empty stadiums due to COVID lockdowns.
Daley said: ‘Who knows what’s going to happen in these Games but I know I’ve got my Olympic gold medal.
‘For me, this time around, my Olympic gold medals will be standing on the diving board, looking to my side and seeing my husband, my kids, my mum, my friends, family, aunts, uncles.
‘There’s a lot of people coming to watch. To see them and be able to dive in front of that again will be extremely special.
‘I’m so excited to see my little kids’ faces when I am stood on that diving board. That’s why I’ve come back this year – it’s for them.
‘Every time I go to bed I have these moments of dreams where I imagine myself standing for my last dive and just like looking to the side and just thinking, ‘oh my gosh, this is it’.
‘This was why I came back this year.’
