Tom Daley: Family first
While he failed to defend the title he won in Tokyo three years ago, this time Daley had the opportunity to medal in front of his two sons Robbie and Phoenix and his husband, Dustin Lance Black. At Tokyo 2020, the Games were cocooned from the general public as part of coronavirus countermeasures.
To Daley, performing in front of his boys on the grandest stage, might mean as much as the fifth piece of Olympic silverware he won – if not more.
“Today has been magical,” said Daley, who was also flag-bearer for Team GB along with Helen Glover. “Being able to compete in front of my family and to see them in the crowd and see them all get excited.
“Before we even started I think we were really happy with how it all went, and to come away with another medal to complete the set for me has been really, quite amazing.
“I mean it’s really like a year ago I didn’t know if I was even going to make the team, I didn’t know if I was going to qualify a spot for GB and to come away with another medal…
“It’s just so special.”
Daley took a two-year timeout following Tokyo. He only returned because his older son Robbie said he wanted to see Daley compete at the Olympics, fueled by an unexpectedly emotional trip to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs.
For Los Angeles – where Daley now resides, describing it as potentially his “second home Games” after London 2012 – the younger Phoneix may have the casting vote this time. He is the oldest member of the team now, and he will be old come 2028.
“Phoenix my youngest son will be old enough to ask me to go back and then that’s it,” Daley said. “I don’t know, we’ll see. I think for right now I just want to enjoy this moment and then we’ll make future decisions later on.”
First appeared on olympics.com