Tom Daley, an icon of British Olympic sport and Aquatics GB's most decorated diver of all time, has confirmed his retirement after winning his fifth Olympic medal.
Tom teamed up with Noah Williams to secure a stunning Men's 10m Synchro silver in Paris last month, adding to his gold in the same event with Matty Lee from Tokyo 2020, bronze alongside Dan Goodfellow at Rio 2016 and two individual Men's 10m Platform bronzes at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.
That fifth Olympic medal - a record for British divers - helped Team GB to a record-breaking performance at Paris 2024, as one of five medals won at the Olympic Aquatics Centre - a fitting symbol of the defining role the 30-year-old has played for Aquatics GB diving over the past decade-and-a-half, since his incredible European title victory from 10m aged only 13 in 2008.
Since then, he has made an Olympic debut aged 14 in Beijing, become world champion a year later in 2009, added three more world titles to that list, stepped on to multiple other World Championship, European and Commonwealth podiums, been made an OBE for services to diving, LGBT+ rights and charity, and carried the flag for Team GB at the recent Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony - on top of every other Olympic achievement, and becoming a father to sons Robbie and Phoenix.
“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," he told Vogue on the decision.
Speaking to the BBC, he added: "I'm really happy with how everything's gone. It's always hard when you say goodbye to your sport. Lots of things to process, but I think it's the right time. This year felt like such a bonus and I got to compete in front of my family, my kids. I got to be flagbearer. So yeah, bucket list ticked off on every occasion."
![Tom Daley Paris 2024 [Getty]](https://www.aquaticsgb.com/media/images/GettyImages-2164174604.width-800.jpg)
A fortnight ago, Tom and Noah were combining to ensure that the former finished with at least one of each Olympic medal colour, a sublime performance seeing them score 463.44 points and take Men's 10m Synchro silver.
After that result, Daley spoke on what this latest chapter of his diving career meant to him.
"It's just so special. This time last year, deciding to come back not knowing whether I would be in the synchro team, let alone qualifying for the Olympics and being here in Paris, diving in front of my son, who is just right here. He asked me to come back, it's just so special and it completes the set - I now have one of every colour," he said.
"He [son Robbie] is six years old now, and I think he might remember some of this, and he's been most excited about the fact there is a little bit of Eiffel Tower in the medal, so he's very excited to get to touch that part of the medal. To be able to enjoy this moment together as a family is special."
And as for the honour of being diving's first flagbearer for Team GB at that memorable Opening Ceremony down the River Seine, alongside rower Helen Glover, he said ahead of the ceremony: "To be asked to be flag bearer is one of the greatest honours in my Olympic diving career. To be able to do it in my fifth Olympic Games and have my family here is a very special thing.
"It has always been a dream of mine, since I was a little kid. I remember in 2008 walking out behind the flag bearer right in the front line, because we were the smallest group of people, and to now be one of the two people to lead out the team is such a huge honour.
"If my dad was around now, he would be so incredibly proud, because he always said that you would know you have cemented your Olympic legacy if you are asked to be a flag bearer at an Olympic Games."
Paying tribute to his silver-medal winning synchro partner, Williams said: "I can't sum it up quickly, but Tom is the one person who has transcended diving in my opinion. He is a massive activist for the gay community and he helps so many communities massively, and he has inspired so many people to take up not just diving but sport in general.
"He's an Olympic icon for Team GB. I'll miss him at training but I'm sure everyone will miss him competing and being around."