Britain's golden boy calls it quits

LONDON — Former Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley said on Monday that it was the "right time "to retire, as Britain's most successful diver walked away from the sport following the Paris Games.

Daley, who won five Olympic medals during his decorated career, revealed the decision to call time on the sport during an interview with British Vogue.

The 30-year-old bowed out after winning silver in the Olympic men's synchronized 10m platform in France, having clinched the gold medal in the same event at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

"I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time. It's the right time to call it a day," Daley said.

Daley emerged as the star of British diving after first competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics aged just 14 years old.

He won bronze at the 2012 Olympics in London in the 10m platform, as well as bronze in the men's synchronized 10m platform in Rio 2016.

Daley, whose popularity grew even more after he came out as gay in 2013, had effectively retired after his gold medal success in Tokyo, before deciding to return for a fifth Olympics in Paris in order to compete in front of his two children.

He decided ahead of the event that he would stop diving competitively once he stepped out of the pool in Paris.

"It feels very, very surreal. I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics," he told Vogue.

"There was a lot of pressure and expectation. I was eager for it to be done.

"But, when I walked out, and saw my husband (Lance) and kids (Robbie and Phoenix), and my friends and family in the audience, I was like, you know what? This is exactly why I did this.

"It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive."

'Bucket list'

Daley's gold in Tokyo came alongside Matty Lee, and he was back to defend his title in Paris after being convinced by his six-year-old son Robbie to return to the sport.

Daley and his dive partner Noah Williams claimed silver in the competition, finishing behind China who completed a historic sweep of all eight Olympic diving gold medals in Paris.

Looking forward to spending more time with his family away from the Olympic spotlight, Daley has no fears he will regret retiring.

"I want to be with my family. I'm really excited to be able to spend some time with them and just be able to feel a bit normal for a couple of days," said Daley, who fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming the first diver to be a British flag bearer in the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris.

"It's always hard when you say goodbye to your sport. There are lots of things to process, but I think it's the right time.

"This year felt like such a bonus, and I got to compete in front of my family, my kids. I got to be flag bearer. So yeah, bucket list ticked off on every occasion."

As well as his Olympic medals, Daley won eight world championship medals, including four golds.

He also took eight European championship medals, including five golds, and won four Commonwealth Games gold medals.

When he wasn't in the pool at the Olympics, Daley was spotted enjoying the Games from the stands while knitting.

With more time on his hands now, Daley plans to focus on his knitting business.

"I'll expand my 'Made With Love' business to get more people into knitting. So watch this space," he said.

AFP