Tom Daley Tearfully Announces Retirement After 2024 Olympics

Tom Daley is diving into a new chapter after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The beloved athlete from Team Great Britain—who has become a fan-favorite across an impressive five Olympic Games between his medal-earning performances and knitting projects—announced he is officially retiring from the sport in an emotional interview with the BBC August 12 while leaving Paris.

“It’s hard to talk about, it's emotional,” Tom told the camera through tears, while the BBC announcer gave him a moment to collect himself, telling him, “The whole of the U.K. are so proud of you, and it's so amazing to have you back with your silver medal. And you must just feel so proud of yourself.”

And on what the 30-year-old is most looking forward to upon his return from this year’s Games, Tom—who shares kids Robert "Robbie" Ray, 6, and Phoenix Rose, 16 months, with husband Dustin Lance Black—had the perfect answer.

“I want to be with my family,” he explained. “I'm really excited to be able to spend some time with them and just be able to feel a bit normal for a couple of days. But, yeah, it's just very overwhelming. I didn’t mean for it to time out exactly like this, but I just feel very proud of my career.”

As he should: Across his five Olympic Games—the first of which he qualified for at the age of 14—Tom has earned an impressive five medals, including one gold, three bronze, and a newly-earned silver from his time in Paris.

“It's a lot, but I'm really happy with how everything's gone,” Tom added. “I just think it's always hard when you say goodbye to your sport. Lots of things to process, but I think it's the right time. Like, this year felt like such a bonus.”

As he explained, he checked off many bucket list items in Paris. “I got to compete in front of my family, my kids,” Tom continued, “and I got to be flagbearer.”

Tom—who noted his tearful demeanor is not like him—also reflected on the legacy he’s left for his children and shared a message to the fans who have been supporting him from near and far.

“I like to think they're very proud of me,” he said of Robbie and Phoenix, adding of his team back home, “The support that I had from Great Britain has been so incredible. Thank you to everyone that's just been there for me throughout the whole of this. I guess it’s the end of an era, but I can look back on my 23 years and be very proud.”

In a separate interview he did with Vogue in anticipation for his retirement announcement, which was published in congruence with his public confirmation, Tom shared a sneak peek about what his next chapter might include.

“I’ve enrolled in a class, a course at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, to be able to learn how to sew,” he explained to the outlet. “I knit and I crochet, but sewing will just add a whole different level of knowledge as to how to construct things. I’ve actually designed a couple of pieces of underwear that I’m going to be launching, and then I’m also hoping to launch a swimwear project next year.”

Though he admitted, “I’ve spent my whole life doing this. Actually being able to let go of it—it’s going to be hard. And it’s going to be a major adjustment to figure out how my days are structured.”

Yet stepping away from the sport as Britain’s most decorated diver—and as someone who has paved the way for future LGBTQ athletes—he leaves behind quit the legacy.

“I would love,” he reflected, “for people to remember me for being a person that persevered, who persisted and didn’t give up on his dream until he was able to achieve it.”