TOM DALEY broke down in tears as he announced his retirement following the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The diver returned home from the French capital with silver in the synchronised dive.
Tom Daley announced his retirement from diving
And it looks to be his last Olympic medal after confirming his retirement live on BBC with a tearful goodbye.
Fighting back tears, Daley told the BBC from St Pancras station: “It’s hard to talk about.”
The Team GB legend – who made his Olympic debut aged just 14 in 2008 – composed himself before explaining his decision.
Daley, 30, said: “I have to hang it up at some time. I’m very proud.”
The diver is a five-time Olympic medalist, winning gold in Tokyo in 2021 and three bronzes during his career.
In Paris, he took silver in front of his American movie producer husband Dustin Lance Black and their two sons.
Now, the doting dad will put his focus on family after his emotional retirement.
He added: “I want to be with my family, I’m really excited to spend some time with them and feel normal for a couple of days.
Tom Daley’s Olympic medal
London 2012: Bronze in 10m platform
Rio 2016: Bronze in 10m synchro
Tokyo 2020: Gold in 10m synchro, Bronze in 10m platform
Paris 2024: Silver in 10m synchro
“It’s just very overwhelming, I didn’t mean for it to time out like this but I just feel very proud of my career.”
Daley burst onto the Olympic stage as a fresh-faced teen and has become one of the poster boys for Team GB.
He was a flag-bearer for the Paris Games, where he became GB’s first diver to compete in five Olympics.
He said: “I am really happy with how everything has gone.
“It’s always hard to say goodbye to your sport, lots of things to process but I think it’s the right time, this year felt like a bonus and I got to compete in front family and my kids, I got to be flag bearer.
“Bucket list ticked off on every occasion. I’d like to think my kids are very proud of me.
“I am happy but it’s just hard to talk when you’ve loved something so much. The support that I’ve had from Great Britain has been so incredible.
“It’s the end of an era, but I can look back on my 23 years and be very proud.”
ReutersDaley made his Olympics debut aged 14 in 2008[/caption]
PAHe won bronze in London in 2012[/caption]
PADaniel Goodfellow and Daley took bronze in Rio[/caption]
PADaley and Matty Lee took gold in 2021[/caption]
PADaley won individual bronze in the Men’s 10m Platform Final in Tokyo[/caption]
GettyIt was silver for Daley and team-mate Noah Williams in Paris[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
