Ex-diver Daley feels sorry for his young self after looking back

Meteoric early fame took a toll on British diving great Tom Daley, the retired former Olympic champion told Reuters, reflecting on the intense pressure of his early days as a teen idol with more sympathy for himself now that he is a parent.

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NEW YORK — Meteoric early fame took a toll on British diving great Tom Daley, the retired former Olympic champion told Reuters, reflecting on the intense pressure of his early days as a teen idol with more sympathy for himself now that he is a parent.

The 31-year-old Daley retired from competitive sport in 2024 after collecting silver — his fifth Olympic medal — in the 10m synchro in Paris, having spent more than half his life in the public eye.

A documentary, 1.6 Seconds, released this week on streaming service Max, chronicles Daley’s breathtaking rise to fame as a 14-year-old Olympian through his difficult days of childhood bullying and his father’s death when the diver was a teenager.