Tom Daley has revealed how a plea from his son pushed him to return to diving after a two-year break and bid for a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Daley, 29, won bronze at London 2012 and Rio 2016 before claiming gold in the 10m synchronised alongside Matty Lee at Tokyo 2020.
Daley hasn’t competed since Tokyo 2020 and it was thought he had stepped away from the sport.
However, a recent visit to the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, USA has drawn him back to the diving board.
“Paris 2024 is definitely a goal,” he
“I’m not ready to be done and I don’t think I was ready to be done and hang up my trunks and move on with that part of my life, and especially when my son Robbie said ‘Papa, I want to see you dive at the Olympics’.”
Daley recently became a father for a second time to son Phoenix.
He says he wants to “set an example” to his children by competing at a British-record fifth Olympic Games appearance for a diver.
“We had the best time at time at the Olympic and Paralympic Museum playing different games, and at the end we went into a room to watch a video about what it means to be an athlete and see those inspirational journeys,” said the three-time world champion.
“I just wept; I couldn’t control myself, I hadn’t grieved diving. I hadn’t been doing it anymore and that I in theory had retired and couldn’t imagine going back to doing it again.
“Coming out of that museum, something changed in me and that has lit a new flame and fire inside me to see where this goes.
“You never say never and this next period of time for me is about enjoying myself and setting an example to Robbie and Phoenix about working hard at something you love.”
Daley made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old at Beijing in 2008 and has won 18 medals across Olympic Games, World and European Championships, including nine golds.
He opted against returning for the recent World Championships, where Great Britain won three medals, but did not podium in the men’s 10m or 10m synchro.
Daley will likely return at the World Championships selection event later this year, ahead of the Doha World Championships in February 2024.
“I don’t know if this is going to be a completely silly idea . . . or an opportunity for me to do this recreationally and have a bit of fun without any pressure, or if my body is going to be able to get back on a diving board and dive half-decently,” he added.
“But you never say never.”
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