With Olympic gold medals, a powerful coming-out journey, and a passion for knitting, Tom Daley has lived multiple lives in one. Now, at 31, the British diving champion reflects on identity, fatherhood, trauma, and healing in 1.6 Seconds, a raw new documentary released for Pride Month. Speaking with L’OFFICIEL, Daley opens up about vulnerability, visibility, and why his greatest act of bravery may just be letting people see the real him.
From medals to mindfulness
Tom Daley is no longer chasing medals—he’s chasing meaning. Having competed in five Olympic Games and brought home an impressive gold, silver, and three bronze medals, the British diver is ready to redefine success. These days, he finds that peace comes not from a 10-meter dive but from the quiet click of knitting needles. “I spend most of my time just having a little knit, every chance I get,” he says, Zooming in from a room lined with colorful yarn. His medals hang in the background, sharing space with skeins of wool—a symbolic merging of his past and present selves.
Daley’s new documentary, 1.6 Seconds, streaming on Olympics.com, marks his most personal project to date. The 90-minute film chronicles his journey from child prodigy to Olympic champion, weaving in never-before-seen family footage and poignant interviews with his mother, coaches, and husband, filmmaker Dustin Lance Black. But this isn’t just a sports documentary—it’s a portrait of resilience. “It’s very vulnerable,” Daley admits. “I’m letting my guard down a lot.”
Rewinding the tape
Watching his life replay on a large screen, Daley says, felt like an out-of-body experience. “It was a bit like at that moment just before death, where you see everything.” The film explores his rapid rise to fame, the pressure of public scrutiny, and private grief following the death of his father in 2011. “There were moments that really caught me off guard, especially ones with my dad,” he shares. “It was a full circle moment—seeing us together, and now having my own kids.”
Through the documentary, Daley relives the triumphs and traumas of his early career: the bullying he faced in school, the weight of national expectation, and the isolation of growing up too fast. “I missed out on so many normal things,” he says. “Going to the movies after school, just hanging out with friends.” But he also acknowledges the extraordinary doors his career opened. “I got to travel the world and do what I loved. I wouldn’t change that.”
Coming out under pressure
Daley’s coming out in 2013 was a cultural milestone, but it wasn’t planned. After being misquoted in the press—”I’m not gay, but I don’t care if you think I am”—he decided to take control of his narrative. “I knew I was gay, but I wasn’t ready to come out,” he recalls. “I felt like I had to overcompensate and hide who I really was.”
Today, Daley is far more comfortable in his skin. “I care less about what people think now,” he says. “I’m a dad, I’m married, and if someone doesn’t like it, then… whatever.” That unapologetic authenticity extends into every part of his life—from his parenting style to his love of fashion and knitwear. “Being visible, being you—that’s the biggest act of activism you can do.”
Redefining masculinity
As a young athlete, Daley struggled with body image and a dangerous misconception: that men couldn’t have eating disorders. “It just wasn’t something people talked about,” he says. His relationship with masculinity has evolved dramatically over the years. These days, he wears nail polish, explores high fashion, and proudly embraces his softer side. “I stopped caring what people thought and started doing things that made me happy,” he says. “Knitting has been the most therapeutic thing ever.”
That passion has grown into Made with Love, his knitwear brand. Now that he’s stepped back from competitive diving, Daley hopes to pour more energy into it. “It’s not just about the finished product,” he explains. “It’s about mindfulness, being present. The mental health benefits are huge.”
A champion for the next generation
As a father, Daley wants his children to experience the kind of childhood he missed. “I want them to be kids for as long as possible,” he says. “Whatever they choose—sports, arts, whatever—I’ll support them, but I’ll never push them.” His return to the Olympic stage in Paris 2024, after a two-year hiatus, was largely for them. “I wanted my kids to see me dive on the world’s biggest stage.”
Daley’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport continues to evolve. “If I were starting now, I probably would’ve come out earlier,” he reflects. “Twelve years ago, it was a different world. But things are changing. Visibility matters.” His documentary, released in June for Pride Month, is part of that ongoing push. “I want people to know they’re not alone. Don’t try to shoulder everything by yourself—reach out.”
What’s next?
So what does life look like after Olympic glory? For Daley, it’s a mix of creative projects, quality time with family, and maybe a future in broadcasting. “I just finished filming a show called Game of Wool—it’s basically Bake Off for knitting,” he laughs. A future as a sports commentator isn’t off the table, either. “Being on the other side of the screen sounds fun.”
But at the heart of it all, Daley remains focused on being present—with his kids, with his craft, and with his audience. “There’s less time for all the crap when you focus on what’s truly important,” he says. After a lifetime of chasing perfection, Tom Daley is finally learning to just be.
From diving boards to crochet hooks, Tom Daley’s journey is a testament to growth, grace, and the power of being unapologetically yourself. In 1.6 Seconds, he lets us in. And in doing so, he reminds us that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the most courageous leap of all.
