Tom Daley is formally retiring from aggressive diving, he confirmed. After strolling away from his fifth Olympics, the 30-year-old athlete teared up throughout a televised interview with the BBC on Monday, August 12, as numerous followers surrounded him to welcome him dwelling.
“It’s laborious to speak about, it’s emotional,” Tom defined whereas tears began to type in his eyes. The interviewer then gave him a second and identified that “the entire of the U.Okay. are so happy with you, and it’s so wonderful to have you ever again along with your silver medal.”
Tom made his Olympic debut on the 2008 Beijing Video games and went on to win bronze medals on the 2012 London and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Through the 2020 Tokyo Video games, Tom took dwelling a gold medal and a bronze medal. At this yr’s video games, Tom gained a silver medal.
Throughout his latest post-Olympics interview, the TV persona defined the explanation why he wished to step away from the game.
That is an emotional watch!
Tom Daley spoke to the BBC moments after asserting he’ll retire from diving. #BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/hZfHABBpN0
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 12, 2024
“I wish to be with my household,” he identified, referring to his husband, Dustin Lance Black, and their children, Robbie and Phoenix. “I’m actually excited to have the ability to spend a while with them and simply be capable of really feel a bit regular for a few days. However, yeah, it’s simply very overwhelming. I didn’t imply for it to trip precisely like this, however I simply really feel very happy with my profession.”
Whereas reflecting on his profession, Tom added that his retirement seems like “quite a bit” however is however “actually pleased with how the whole lot’s gone.”
“I simply assume it’s at all times laborious whenever you say ‘goodbye’ to your sport,” he defined. “Numerous issues to course of, however I believe it’s the precise time. Like, this yr felt like such a bonus.”
After the interviewer identified that his kids have to be “very proud” of him, Tom replied, “Yeah, I wish to assume they’re very happy with me.” Since he was nonetheless combating again tears, the five-time Olympian added that he didn’t notice he would battle to “truly communicate” in that second.
“The assist that I had from Nice Britain has been so unimaginable,” he concluded. “Thanks to everybody that’s simply been there for me all through the entire of this. I suppose it’s the tip of an period, however I can look again on my 23 years and be very proud.”