The adorable Tom Daley moment behind superb Olympic silver

Tom Daley

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Tom Daley looked up after winning another medal at the Olympics, this time a silver with Noah Williams in the men's synchronised 10m platform. Suddenly, a juice cup was thrown down from above towards him. It was his son Phoenix, thrilled to see his father succeed at the Olympics once again. Reporters quickly moved out of the way as Phoenix celebrated his dad's achievement.

Tom Daley - Figure 1
Photo The Independent

It was a very important moment for Daley to reaffirm his decision to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. On a beautiful Monday in the city, he won a silver medal, which was great, but creating memories with his young family made it even more special. This was Daley's fifth Olympics, and he and Williams were only bested by the unbeatable Chinese pair of Junjie Lian and Hao Yang. With this latest silver medal, Daley's collection now includes five medals, including the famous gold in Tokyo and three bronze medals.

Daley returned with enthusiasm after his last Olympic dive, and within an hour, he was preparing for his new role as a broadcaster with Eurosport in Paris. The 30-year-old showed a strong determination and focus.

Holding onto his distinctive rainbow towel, Daley, a proud LGBTQ athlete, drew attention to himself and others like him while competing in front of millions of viewers worldwide. Taking in the last moments before his final dive at the Olympics, he dried off his arms and legs with the towel, then carried it with him as he made his way up to the diving platform.

The duet performed a complex dive with four-and-a-half somersaults, a powerful move executed flawlessly with a clean entry into the water by both divers at the Aquatics Centre. The previously quiet atmosphere was suddenly filled with cheers as they scored an impressive 93.24 points, earning them a silver medal. While Daley had expressed disappointment about the lack of excitement three years ago in Tokyo, the empty feeling caused by the Covid pandemic was now replaced by a lively and supportive crowd.

Tom Daley - Figure 2
Photo The Independent

Every four years, diving competitions grab people's attention with their excitement. The synchronized events move quickly, with six dives in just 45 minutes and very little room for mistakes. The Chinese duo were expected to win the gold, and they didn't disappoint. Daley believed it was still possible for him to win, but China was just too dominant, scoring over 490 points and breaking 100 points with their final dive. They were simply too good for anyone to catch them.

"We were ready to take the bronze if China made a mistake," Daley admitted, as Team GB finished with 463.44 points compared to Canada's 422.13 points. "But China performed perfectly today. Being able to compete in front of my family and kids, I was aware of the risk of getting injured and not being able to compete. I didn't want to believe I would make it to my fifth Games until I finished training. Arriving here in good shape was truly amazing."

This entertainer, whose charming personality has been well-received and embraced by the British public over the past 16 years since he first made his mark at Beijing 2008 at the age of 14. Despite facing challenges, as noted by coach Jane Figueiredo, Daley has managed to create a new life with his husband Dustin Lance Black and their sons Phoenix and Robbie, away from the pressures of the British training camp.

Tom Daley - Figure 3
Photo The Independent

"Daley confessed that the best part of the experience was being there with his kids. They were watching from above the area where interviews were being conducted. Phoenix, in his excitement, even threw his cup of juice at Daley, narrowly missing one of the reporters. It was a special moment to have them there to celebrate. Robbie was also thrilled, as he had written about the Eiffel Tower being featured on the medal in his school journal."

Apart from Andy Murray, Daley is the one in Team GB who has the most impact. He carried the flag in a rainy opening ceremony and made people laugh by posing with Helen Glover to recreate the famous Titanic scene on the River Seine. His love for knitting has also delighted his many followers on social media.

His group of supporters, wearing 'Team Daley' shirts, showed up early for what could be the last competition of his impressive Olympic career. Enjoying the sunny weather in Saint-Denis, they were led by Daley's Grandma, who was attending her fifth Games. Feeling confident after returning to the sport due to the wishes of his young son and a complicated arrangement with Williams, who now lives in Los Angeles while his partner resides in London.

I was informed that I shouldn't return if Matty and Noah secured a medal at the World Championships. However, since they didn't, I attempted to make a comeback. I teamed up with Matty Lee for some synchronized diving, and also partnered with Noah. Unfortunately, Matty ended up getting injured." Daley explained.

Tom Daley - Figure 4
Photo The Independent

"If we were to receive a medal at the World Championships, it would truly be a remarkable achievement for our team. In November, we started synchronizing our movements for the first time and only had about two months of training together. The distance between us, with me living in Los Angeles and him in London, meant that we could only practice together during competitions and had to rely on improvisation."

"This wasn't my usual routine, but I found myself in Los Angeles due to my husband's job. I was training at UCLA, which was an amazing experience, away from the pressures of the national program. It was difficult at times, but ultimately it was beneficial for us."

Daley couldn't stop China from winning all eight diving golds, which seems likely now. However, with the help of Williams, who looks up to Daley as his role model, they have achieved success in the past year thanks to working more intelligently rather than working harder.

"As a sportsman, you understand the importance of training wisely. It's crucial to focus on different aspects of your life, not just your sport," Daley said.

I was feeling emotional just getting ready for this. My husband has truly been supportive, looking after the kids so that I could travel for competitions. An athlete who is content is more likely to succeed.

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