'I can look back and be proud' - Daley in his own words

Sixteen years aft he first stepped connected nan Olympic shape arsenic a teenager, Tom Daley has retired.

Britain's astir dressed up diver is ending his profession pinch 5 Olympic medals to his name.

He was 14 erstwhile he made his Games debut astatine Beijing 2008, and past Monday - 5,831 days connected - returned for his 5th Games successful Paris, winning metallic alongside Noah Williams successful nan men's synchro 10m platform.

Before Paris 2024, Daley said to BBC Sport astir his affectional journey, during which he has won Olympic gold, dealt pinch nan decease of his father, joined his partner Dustin Lance Black, go a begetter of 2 sons, stepped distant from diving, past made a comeback. After nan Games, nan BBC caught up pinch him again to talk astir his determination to retire.

BBC Sport first ran a type of this portion connected 24 July.

Daley has grown up successful nan media spotlight from a young age. He won golden astatine nan European Championships arsenic a 13-year-old successful 2008, vanished seventh successful nan individual arena astatine nan Olympics, aged 14, later that twelvemonth and came retired arsenic cheery successful 2013, soon aft winning his first badge astatine nan London Games. Before nan Olympics, he said to BBC Sport astir those experiences.

"As a kid increasing up, emotion different and emotion for illustration I didn't rather fresh in, I ever felt for illustration I had to overachieve to disguise nan portion of maine that I ever thought was considered wrong.

"I cognize really I felt successful that play of clip and it was for illustration a very tortured soul.

"I struggled pinch each kinds of different things erstwhile it came to going distant from location and being distant for illustration from my parents, going to unfamiliar territory.

"I was perfectly atrocious astatine staying distant from home. I utilized to outcry and ne'er want to enactment overnight without my parents."

During his early career, Daley was taken to competitions and supported by his father, Rob. In 2006, Rob was diagnosed pinch a encephalon tumour and died successful 2011, 14 months earlier nan London Olympics.

"My dada was hugely dedicated to each of his kids, but successful peculiar astir my time.

"There was thing that he wouldn't do if it was going to thief either make maine consciousness amended successful training and springiness maine a amended opportunity to beryllium capable to spell and compete.

"He was location for each title and each training session, nary matter what it was.

"To cognize really overmuch he sacrificed is very special.

"I dream that he ne'er regretted spending that clip pinch me, travelling nan world and getting to spot those competitions.

"Now, arsenic a parent, I consciousness for illustration I person to unrecorded by his illustration connected that arsenic well. I truthful wish that he sewage to spot maine triumph an Olympic medal."

Daley won bronze astatine London 2012 and nan Olympics 4 years later successful Rio. In 2018 he and his hubby Dustin Lance Black, a US film-maker, announced nan commencement of their son, Robbie, who was named aft Daley's father. Their 2nd son, Phoenix, was calved successful 2023.

At nan Tokyo Games successful 2021, Daley won his first Olympic golden successful nan 10m synchronised arena pinch partner Matty Lee. Afterwards, having moved to nan US pinch his family, he efficaciously retired from diving earlier announcing his return aft a two-year break successful 2023. The determination came aft a travel to nan US Olympic and Paralympic depository successful Colorado.

"At nan extremity of nan depository they had this video of what it intends to beryllium an Olympian and each of nan effort you person to spell to to get to nan Olympic Games.

"I retrieve nan video finishing and I was location crying.

"It was Robbie who turned and said, 'Papa, what's nan matter?'

"Lance looked astatine me, saw maine crying and thought, 'oh no. I cognize what this means...'

"I said, 'I conscionable really miss diving successful nan Olympics', and Robbie said, 'but Papa, I want to spot you dive successful nan Olympics' - and that was that."

Daley had been 1 of nan 2 British flagbearers for nan opening ceremonial and his hubby and children were among a ample contingent of family and friends astatine nan Paris Aquatics Centre to springiness nan British brace large support.

"It's conscionable truthful special," Daley said aft they vanished 2nd down China's Lian Junjie and nan Hao. "Doing it successful beforehand of my boy who asked maine to travel backmost is truthful special. I now person 1 [medal] of each colour, I've completed nan set."

His 2 sons were wearing T-shirts that publication 'That's my Papa' and nan first flicker of emotion from Daley came arsenic he blew a buss to his family from nan badge podium.

On Monday, in an question and reply pinch Vogue,, external Daley confirmed his retirement, saying: "It was affectional up location connected nan platform, knowing it was going to beryllium my past competitory dive.

"But I person to make nan determination astatine immoderate point, and it feels for illustration nan correct time. It’s nan correct clip to telephone it a day.

“I felt truthful tense knowing it was my past Olympics. There was a batch of unit and expectation. I was eager for it to beryllium done, but erstwhile I saw my husband, kids, my friends and family successful nan audience, I was like, 'this is precisely why I did this'.

In an question and reply pinch nan BBC aft arriving backmost into London pinch different members of Team GB, an affectional Daley added: "Coming backmost to a reception for illustration this is truthful special.

"It's ever difficult erstwhile you opportunity goodbye to your sport. Lots of things to process, but it’s nan correct time.

"The support I've had has been incredible. Thank you to everyone who’s been pinch me. I conjecture it's nan extremity of an era but I tin look backmost connected my 23 years and beryllium very proud."