Britain's Tom Daley tells LGBTQ+ youth 'you are not alone' after taking gold at Tokyo Olympics

vt-author-image

By VT

Article saved!Article saved!

Tom Daley has shared some encouraging words for LGBTQ+ youth after taking gold in Tokyo.

According to Today, the 27-year-old British Olympic swimmer spoke on the subject of his sexuality and his career in sports after he and his diving partner, Matty Lee, swept to victory in the men's synchronized 10-meter platform event.

Daley told reporters at a press conference following his victory: "I feel incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion.

"And I feel very empowered by that because when I was younger, I thought I was never going to be anything, or achieve anything, because of who I was, and to be an Olympic champion now just shows that you can achieve anything."

The record-breaking swimmer continued by stating that he felt isolated after first coming out as gay back in 2013, stating that he, "always felt like the one that was alone and different and didn't fit in."

"There was something about me that was always never going to be as good as what society wanted me to be," he added.

Daley continued: "I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone. That you can achieve anything and that there is a whole lot of your chosen family out here, ready to support you."

Celebrating his win with his 2.2 million Instagram followers, Daley wrote in a post: "I still can’t believe we actually did it! After 4 Olympics and 20 years of diving!

"An Olympic Gold medal! And to do it with @mattydiver was all the more special! I wish my family was there to see it, but knowing my Husband and Son got to see us win Olympic Gold is NEXT LEVEL!"

This comes not long after 24-year-old USA gymnast Simone Biles opened up about the pressure she has felt participating in the games.

In an Instagram post made on On Monday, July 26, the five-time Olympic medalist referenced her highly-publicized stumble on day one of the contest.

Biles wrote in a caption: "I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn't affect me but damn sometimes it's hard hahaha! The Olympics is no joke!

"BUT I'm happy my family was able to be with me virtually, they mean the world to me! [sic]"

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/PA Images

Britain's Tom Daley tells LGBTQ+ youth 'you are not alone' after taking gold at Tokyo Olympics

vt-author-image

By VT

Article saved!Article saved!

Tom Daley has shared some encouraging words for LGBTQ+ youth after taking gold in Tokyo.

According to Today, the 27-year-old British Olympic swimmer spoke on the subject of his sexuality and his career in sports after he and his diving partner, Matty Lee, swept to victory in the men's synchronized 10-meter platform event.

Daley told reporters at a press conference following his victory: "I feel incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion.

"And I feel very empowered by that because when I was younger, I thought I was never going to be anything, or achieve anything, because of who I was, and to be an Olympic champion now just shows that you can achieve anything."

The record-breaking swimmer continued by stating that he felt isolated after first coming out as gay back in 2013, stating that he, "always felt like the one that was alone and different and didn't fit in."

"There was something about me that was always never going to be as good as what society wanted me to be," he added.

Daley continued: "I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone. That you can achieve anything and that there is a whole lot of your chosen family out here, ready to support you."

Celebrating his win with his 2.2 million Instagram followers, Daley wrote in a post: "I still can’t believe we actually did it! After 4 Olympics and 20 years of diving!

"An Olympic Gold medal! And to do it with @mattydiver was all the more special! I wish my family was there to see it, but knowing my Husband and Son got to see us win Olympic Gold is NEXT LEVEL!"

This comes not long after 24-year-old USA gymnast Simone Biles opened up about the pressure she has felt participating in the games.

In an Instagram post made on On Monday, July 26, the five-time Olympic medalist referenced her highly-publicized stumble on day one of the contest.

Biles wrote in a caption: "I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn't affect me but damn sometimes it's hard hahaha! The Olympics is no joke!

"BUT I'm happy my family was able to be with me virtually, they mean the world to me! [sic]"

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/PA Images