Tom Daley spent much of his life standing ten metres above a pool, preparing for a dive that would last less than two seconds. He first competed at the Olympics as a teenager and went on to win five medals across five Games. His career brought him an Olympic gold, world titles and a place in British sporting history. Since retiring, he has turned his love of knitting into a business and a television career.
Tom Daley: Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Robert Daley |
| Born | 21 May 1994 |
| Age | 32, as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Plymouth, England |
| Sport | Diving |
| Olympic medals | One gold, one silver and three bronze |
| Husband | Dustin Lance Black |
| Children | Two sons, Robbie and Phoenix |
| Business | Made With Love |
| Current work | Craft business and television presenting |
Early Life in Plymouth
Tom Daley grew up in Plymouth with his parents, Debbie and Robert, and his two younger brothers, William and Ben. He began diving as a child and showed talent early. By his teens, he was competing against adults and attracting national attention. His father, known as Rob, played a major part in those early years. He travelled with his son and supported him through training and competitions. That close bond remained important to Daley throughout his career. Fame came while he was still at school. Alongside the excitement of representing Britain, he faced bullying and the pressure of being recognised in public. He later moved to Plymouth College, where he continued his education while developing as a diver.
Losing His Father
Rob Daley died from a brain tumour in 2011, when his son was 17. The loss came one year before the London Olympics. His father had helped him reach the sport’s biggest stage but did not live to see him win an Olympic medal. Daley has spoken about the effect of that grief. Years later, he named his eldest son Robert in his father’s honour.
From Teenage Olympian to World Champion
Tom Daley made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008, aged 14. He did not win a medal, but competing at that age marked him as one of Britain’s brightest diving talents. The following year, he won the men’s individual 10-metre platform title at the World Championships. His success came from years of training. A diver must control speed, rotation and body position, then enter the water with as little splash as possible. In the 10-metre event, there is almost no time to correct a mistake after leaving the platform. Daley became known for meeting that challenge under intense pressure.
He won the individual world title again in 2017. Across individual and team events, he earned four World Championship gold medals during his career. He also won titles at European and Commonwealth level.
Five Olympic Games, Five Medals
At London 2012, Tom Daley won bronze in the individual 10-metre platform event. The medal was especially meaningful after his father’s death and the huge attention placed on him before a home Olympics. At Rio 2016, he earned another bronze, this time in synchronised 10-metre diving with Daniel Goodfellow. He also faced disappointment in the individual event, showing that even an established champion could struggle on a particular day.
His greatest Olympic result came at Tokyo 2020, which took place in 2021. Daley and Matty Lee won gold in the synchronised 10-metre platform event. It was his first Olympic title, achieved at his fourth Games. He added an individual bronze before leaving Tokyo. After a break from competition, Tom Daley returned for Paris 2024. His eldest son had said he wanted to watch him dive at an Olympics. Partnering Noah Williams, Tom Daley won silver in the synchronised 10-metre event. It was his fifth Olympic medal and the final competition of his career.
Why Did He Retire?
Tom Daley confirmed his retirement after Paris. He had competed at five Olympics, won every colour of medal and shared his final Games with his husband and children. Retirement gave him more time for family and the creative work he had begun alongside diving.
Husband, Children and Family Life
Tom Daley husband is Dustin Lance Black, an American screenwriter and filmmaker. They married in 2017 and have two sons. Their eldest, Robert “Robbie” Ray, was born in 2018; their younger son, Phoenix Rose, was born in 2023. Fatherhood changed the way Daley viewed sport. At Paris, his children could see him compete, something that had helped inspire his return. He has also described the practical work of raising two young children with Black while managing training and travel. The family has lived in Los Angeles. Although Daley’s work still takes him to Britain and elsewhere, his accounts of life after diving often centre on time with his husband and sons.
How Knitting Became Part of His Life
Tom Daley started knitting in 2020 after his coach encouraged him to find a way to rest between training sessions. He found it hard to sit still, but making something by hand gave him a reason to slow down and focus. The hobby became famous during the Tokyo Olympics, when cameras showed him knitting while he watched other events.
He also made a small holder for his gold medal to protect it from scratches. For Daley, knitting was a calming activity during a demanding competition, not simply something to do between dives. He began sharing his work online and encouraged others to try knitting and crochet. What started as personal downtime soon became a major part of his work outside sport.
Made With Love and Entrepreneurship
In 2021, Tom Daley founded Made With Love, a craft brand offering knitting and crochet products, including kits that help people make their own projects. He has also published craft books and worked with other businesses on wool products. This makes entrepreneur a fair description of his career today. He took a skill he enjoyed, developed products from it and built a business that could continue after competitive diving. His name brought attention to the brand, but the products grew from a hobby he had practised for himself.
Television, Books and Advocacy
Tom Daley has moved into presenting. He hosts Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter, a television competition in which amateur knitters create work under challenge conditions. A second series was announced in 2026. He has also written about his life. His books include My Story and the memoir Coming Up for Air. The documentary Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds looks back at his achievements, his father’s influence and the pressures of growing up in sport. Away from competition, Daley has spoken publicly about LGBT+ inclusion. He received an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for his achievements in diving and his work raising awareness of LGBT issues.
What Is His Net Worth?
Tom Daley exact personal net worth is not confirmed. Different websites publish different estimates, but those figures do not establish the value of his business interests, other assets or financial commitments. His work has included sport, books, television, partnerships and craft products; assigning a precise total would be speculation.
A Career That Reached Beyond the Pool
Tom Daley sporting record is exceptional: five Olympic Games, five medals and four world titles. Yet the story did not end with his final dive in Paris. He has used the same patience and attention to detail that served him in sport to develop a craft business and a new role on television. At 32, he has already completed one remarkable career and begun another.
