Five-time Olympic medalist Tom Daley has announced his retirement from diving, bringing an end to an illustrious career that spanned over a decade.
In an exclusive interview with British Vogue magazine on Monday, the 30-year-old British diver shared his decision to step away from competitive diving. Daley made his Olympic debut at the age of 14 at the Beijing 2008 Games and went on to compete in five consecutive Olympics.
“It feels very, very surreal. I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics,” Daley said, reflecting on his final competition. “There was a lot of pressure and expectations. I was eager for it to be done.”
Daley’s Olympic journey saw him win gold and bronze medals in Tokyo, silver in Paris, and bronzes at London 2012 and Rio 2016. His gold medal came in the 10m synchronized event at Tokyo 2021 alongside Matty Lee.
Returning to defend his title in Paris after being convinced by his son Robbie to return to the sport, Daley won silver in the French capital alongside Noah Williams. Chinese pair Lian Junjie and Yang Hao claimed the title in the event.
“It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive,” Daley shared. “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.”
Daley’s retirement marks the end of an era for British diving, leaving a legacy of inspiration for future generations of athletes.
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Five-time Olympic medalist Tom Daley announces retirement from diving
cgtn.com
