Tom Daley
May 21, 1994 — Plymouth, Devon, England
Thomas Robert Daley is an English retired diver, YouTuber, and television personality who won an Olympic gold medal in the synchronized 10-metre platform at the Tokyo 2020 Games, making him one of Britain's most decorated Olympic athletes with five career Olympic medals.
A Plymouth Prodigy
Born on May 21, 1994 in Plymouth, Devon, Daley showed exceptional talent at a very young age, training at Plymouth Diving Club under coach Andy Banks. He made his senior international debut at age thirteen and shot to global fame when he won the 10-metre platform event at the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Rome — becoming the youngest ever world champion in that discipline at just fifteen years old. The feat announced one of Britain's most talented sporting prospects to the world.
His father, Rob Daley, was a significant presence throughout Tom's early career, accompanying him to major competitions. Rob passed away from a brain tumor in 2011, a loss that shaped the diver's perspective on competition and life. Tom has spoken openly about how his father's death drove him to perform at the 2012 London Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in front of a home crowd in the individual platform event.
Olympic Glory
Daley competed in four consecutive Olympic Games, accumulating medals across both individual and synchronized events. After bronzes at London 2012 and Rio 2016, he achieved the gold he had been building toward at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021, winning the men's synchronized 10-metre platform alongside Matty Lee in a score that stunned the Chinese favorites. He became the first British diver in history to win Olympic gold, and the emotional scenes — including Daley visibly tearful during the medal ceremony — became one of the most celebrated moments of those Games. At Paris 2024, he added a silver medal, giving him five Olympic medals total, the most of any British diver.
Did You Know?
During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, cameras caught Daley knitting in the stands while watching other events, and the image went viral worldwide. He had taken up knitting during lockdown and turned it into a genuine hobby — later founding a knitwear brand called "Made with Love by Tom Daley" and knitting pouches for Team GB's gold medals.
Beyond the Pool
Daley has built a significant off-platform career as a television personality, author, and YouTube creator. He came out as gay in a 2013 YouTube video that drew enormous support worldwide. In 2017 he married American screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black, and the couple have a son together. His YouTube channel, where he has shared diving training, personal vlogs, and cooking content, has attracted millions of subscribers. He has also been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly around the exclusion of LGBTQ+ athletes at events held in countries with anti-gay laws. Daley announced his retirement from competitive diving in 2024 following the Paris Olympics, concluding a career of extraordinary breadth and achievement.