Tom Daley announces retirement from diving after Olympic success

British diver Tom Daley, a queer icon, has announced his retirement from the sport after his participation in the Paris Olympics in 2024. At 30 years old, the athlete, who has accumulated five Olympic medals throughout his career, marked by LGBT+ visibility, said in an interview with British Vogue that this is “the right time to call it a day”.

Daley, who began competing at the age of seven, described what it was like stepping onto the diving board for the last time: “It was emotional at the end, standing up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive. But I have to make that decision at some point, and it feels like the right time.”

His decision to retire came after winning the silver medal in the men’s 10-meter synchronized diving event alongside partner Noah Williams. During the awards ceremony, Daley walked up to the podium holding a rainbow-print towel, a symbol of LGBTQIA+ pride.

Daley, who is also known for his crochet skills, previously won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with his then partner Matty Lee, as well as three bronze medals at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

By Ezatamentchy