Sporting Heroes Month: Tom Daley
In association with MaxiNutrition.
You didn’t think we’d leave out this guy, did you? Today in Sporting Heroes Month, we’re profiling the one and only Tom Daley. Two-time Attitude cover star, diving champ and all around nice guy, we didn’t think we could love Tom any more – then in December 2013, he came out quietly, confidently, in a video he filmed and posted to YouTube himself. Onya Tom.
Top Sporting Achievement: His Olympic bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics!
Better Half: Tom now lives in London with Dustin Lance Black, American film screenwriter, director and producer.
Best Attribute: The boyish smile with that lean, muscular physique…
Sporting Quote: “If you ask any athlete, you always start to struggle after the Olympics, because you have another four years to wait for one. You have that emotional high – especially with it being in my home country – so it takes a bit of adjusting afterwards.” Not long left until Rio now, Tom.
Special Weapon: Alongside diving Tom has starred in Tom Daley Goes Global on ITV2 that followed him and his best friend, Sophie Lee as they backpack around the world for six weeks. Tom also acted as a mentor to celebrities on another ITV2 show, Splash.
Style: Outside of his swimming gear, Tom scrubs up well on nights out but likes to keep everything simple with plain shirts, jumpers and blazers.
Training Tip: Tom doesn’t have a strict training diet, although he does have to be sensible with what he eats. “I sneak in some ice-cream. I love ice-cream and Haribo – I snack on them in between competitions to keep my energy levels up.”
In The Game: Tom likes to keep himself busy, “I’m used to it. It keeps your mind fresh. It keeps you able to work harder at training, because you’re not constantly thinking about always diving. It helps me a lot.”
Wins: Too many to list here! So far he’s won 36 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 7 bronze medals! Tom’s also won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award three years in a row.
Attitude: “Like with anything, you go through stages of loving it, but you go through ups and downs. But that’s sport and that’s life – sometimes you might find it quite frustrating, because you haven’t achieved what you wanted to, but you have to get through that. I feel I’ve come out the other side and emerged a stronger diver.” Wise words, Tom.