Aug 12
Watch: Tom Daley Emotionally Announces Retirement
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Five-time Olympic medallist Tom Daley is hanging up his diving speedo for good. After winning silver at the Paris Olympics, Daley said he announced that he is retiring, and the emotional moment was caught on video.
As reported by BBC, the 30-year-old, who has been competing since he was 14, now has a medal in every color.
At his first Olympic Games in 2008, Daley won bronze in London 2012 and followed that up with another bronze in Tokyo 2021. He also got a bronze in men's synchronised 10m platform in Rio 2016.
He also won gold in 2021 with partner Matty Lee and was effectively retired until his son Robbie beckoned him back to the water at least one more time.
Speaking to reporters, Daley shared that he is "really happy with how everything's gone."
He added, "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."
Daley then began to get choked up. "I want to be with my family. 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," he said.
According to Daley, he knew the Paris Olympics would be his last performance.
"It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive," Daley reportedly told Vogue. "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."
Watch Daley get teary-eyed below.
