After an incredible journey spanning five Olympic Games, 🌊✨ British diving sensation Tom Daley has decided it's time to hang up his swimsuit and goggles. The 30-year-old athlete announced his retirement on Monday, sharing his decision with British Vogue.
\"It feels very, very surreal,\" Daley confessed. \"I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics.\"
Daley made a splash 💦 when he debuted at the Beijing 2008 Olympics as a fresh-faced teenager. Over the years, he's nabbed gold and bronze in Tokyo, silver in Paris, and bronzes at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. Talk about a medal haul! 🏅🏅🏅
Reflecting on his final dive in Paris last month, where he clinched his fifth Olympic medal in the 10m synchronized event, Daley said, \"There was a lot of pressure and expectations. I was eager for it to be done. But when I walked out and saw my husband Lance and kids Robbie and Phoenix in the audience, I was like, you know what? This is exactly why I did this.\" ❤️👨👨👦👦
He added, \"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.\"
Daley's gold in the 10m synchronized event at Tokyo 2021 alongside Matty Lee was a career highlight. 🌟 He returned to defend his title in Paris after his son Robbie convinced him to dive back in. Talk about family goals! 👪
In Paris, Daley teamed up with Noah Williams to snag a silver medal. The event was won by the Chinese duo Lian Junjie and Yang Hao. 🥇
As Tom Daley waves goodbye to competitive diving, we can't wait to see what adventures await him next. Maybe a TikTok star? Or a fashion icon? The sky's the limit! 🚀✨
Reference(s):
Five-time Olympic medalist Tom Daley announces retirement from diving
cgtn.com
