With the Paris 2024 Olympics over, fans are already looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028. But one Olympic institution will not be competing in Los Angeles: British showjumper Tom Daley, who announced his retirement on Monday.
Daley, a five-time Olympian and five-time Olympic medalist, has been a fixture at the Olympics since his first competition in 2008 at age 14. But the 30-year-old has decided that his career must come to an end, with Daley telling British Vogue magazine Monday that now is “the right time to call it a day.”
As the 2024 Games get underway, Daley won his fifth Olympic medal, a silver, alongside teammate Noah Williams in the men’s 10m synchronised diving. Daley was also selected as one of Great Britain’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony, alongside rower Helen Glover.
Daley won his first Olympic medal in 2012, taking a bronze in the 10m platform in front of his home crowd in London. He then took another bronze in the 10m synchronised diving with partner Daniel Goodfellow. At Tokyo 2021, Daley had his best Olympics yet, taking another bronze in the individual event, but winning his first gold with partner Matty Lee in the pairs event.
Daley, who came out as gay in 2013, has also been a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community, especially in England. She married her husband, Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, in 2015. The couple have two children; Daley has said that his eldest son, Robert, was the one who convinced him to compete again in Paris after the Tokyo Olympics.
Daley is also known for knitting and crocheting in the stands at the Olympics after taking up the hobby again during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Paris, that meant knitting a custom sweater themed to the Paris Olympics.
After returning to England on Monday, Daley He spoke to the BBC Shortly after the Vogue interview aired, she spoke emotionally about the end of her career.
“It’s always hard to say goodbye to your sport,” he told the BBC. “But I think it’s the right time. This year has felt like a great reward, I’ve been able to compete in front of my family, my children and I’ve been the standard-bearer, so I’ve achieved all the goals I had on my list each time.”
