After winning five Olympic medals, including a silver medal in Paris, and carrying the flag of Great Britain at the opening ceremony, the diver is retiring as the most decorated British diver in the history of the sport.
Following the completion of his fifth Olympic gold medal, which he earned in Paris in 2024, Tom Daley has announced his intention to retire from the sport of diving.
Together with Noah Williams, Daley triumphed in the synchronised 10 metre plate competition at the Olympic Games, completing a complete set of medals for his Olympic Games accomplishments. In addition to three bronze medals, they also won gold in the competition that took place in Tokyo with Matty Lee. This was in addition to the silver medal that they won.
The thirty-year-old athlete, who was one of the flagbearers for Team Great Britain at the opening ceremony, is nearing the end of a competitive career that has featured five appearances at the Olympics and two individual world titles. He is approaching the end of his career.
During the Games, the diver had dropped hints that he would continue to compete in the sport in 2028, which would be the year that he would be competing in Los Angeles, which is the city that he currently calls home.
Daley, on the other hand, who had returned from his first retirement in order to take part in the Paris event, has declared that the “right time to call it a day” has arrived. Paris was the location of the event.
“It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing that it was going to be my last competitive dive,” Daley said in an interview with Vogue, confirming the news. “It was my last dive.” The other side of the coin is that I will have to make the decision at some point in the future, and it appears that the moment to do so is right now. The time has come to finish what you’ve been doing and call it a day.
It’s an incredibly surreal experience. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of nervousness as I approached this momentous occasion, fully aware that it would be my final appearance at the Olympics. There was a significant amount of pressure and expectation. I couldn’t wait for it to be finished. However, as I stepped outside and caught sight of my husband [Dustin Lance Black], children, and loved ones in the audience, I couldn’t help but think… That’s precisely the reason behind my decision. I’m here, and regardless of the outcome of the competition, I will maintain a positive attitude.
Daley had the honour of representing Team GB at the 2008 Olympics, where he showcased his talent by finishing seventh in the 10 m platform competition.
After achieving a remarkable first world title in Rome in 2009, Daley went on to claim an individual Olympic bronze at London 2012. His success continued as he secured the first of three synchronised medals in Rio de Janeiro.
Hailing from Plymouth, he has the remarkable distinction of being the recipient of the prestigious BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award not once, not twice, but an incredible three times. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, he was bestowed with the esteemed honour of an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.
After coming out of retirement to give his children the chance to witness his Olympic dive, Daley was chosen as one of Team GB’s flag bearers, along with Helen Glover, for the opening ceremony along the River Seine.
He and Williams teamed up to claim the silver medal, finishing second to the Chinese duo of Yang Hao and Lian Junjie. Great Britain’s divers had an outstanding performance at the Games, winning a medal in every synchronised event.
“To be the diver with the most medals in Britain at the moment… I have an overwhelming sense of pride,” Daley continued. When I consider what I’ve accomplished, I find that I am truly and completely content with my actions.
“I want to be with my family,” Daley said in an interview with the BBC, referring to his immediate plans. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to spend some time with them and, at the same time, feel like I am back to my normal self.
When you have to say goodbye to your sport, it is always a difficult time. I have a lot of things to process, but I believe that now is the appropriate time. The fact that I was able to participate in front of my family, namely my children, made this year feel like a huge bonus. It was my honour to carry the flag. As a result, every single item on the bucket list has been accomplished.