Sport

Tom Daley confirms retirement from diving: ‘It’s the right time to call it a day’

The five-time Olympic medallist took silver in the men’s 10m synchronised event in Paris

Team GB's Tom Daley announced his decision to retire following the Olympic Games in Paris. Photograph: John Walton/PA Wire
Team GB's Tom Daley announced his decision to retire following the Olympic Games in Paris. Photograph: John Walton/PA Wire
Mon Aug 12 2024 - 14:56

The British diver Tom Daley has announced his retirement from the sport, after winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

The 30-year-old, who won gold at Tokyo in 2021, revealed he had decided to call time on his career during an interview with British Vogue. Daley, who added a fifth Olympic medal to his collection at the 10m synchro event in Paris, said: “It feels very, very surreal. I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics.

“There was a lot of pressure and expectations. I was eager for it to be done. But when I walked out, and saw my husband [Dustin Lance Black] and 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.

“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.”

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Daley competed at five Games, making his bow at Beijing 2008 and winning gold and bronze in Tokyo, silver in Paris and bronzes in London and Rio. His gold came in the 10m synchronised event alongside Matty Lee in Tokyo and he was back to defend his title this summer, after being convinced by son Robbie to return to the sport.

Daley and partner Noah Williams claimed silver in the competition, finishing behind China a fortnight ago.

After arriving back from Paris at London St Pancras, Daley added: “I’m incredibly proud for doing another cycle at an Olympic Games and for me it felt like a massive bonus because I took two years out of the sport after Tokyo and I didn’t know if I would get back into the team or qualify for a spot with Team GB. To come away with a medal in front of my family, it meant a lot to me.

“[I’ll spend] more time with my kids, knitting, expand my business to get more people into knitting, so watch this space.”