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Tom Daley has revealed how a plea from his son pushed him to reach to diving after a two-year break and affirm for a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Daley, 29, gained bronze at London 2012 and Rio 2016 earlier than claiming gold within the 10m synchronised alongside Matty Lee at Tokyo 2020.
Daley hasn’t competed since Tokyo 2020 and it was notion he had stepped away from the game.
On the other hand, a present seek the advice of with to the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, USA has drawn him back to the diving board.
“Paris 2024 is unquestionably a goal,” he
“I’m not ready to be carried out and I don’t assume I was ready to be carried out and hang up my trunks and transfer on with that part of my existence, and especially when my son Robbie said ‘Papa, I want to survey you dive at the Olympics’.”
Daley recently became a father for a second time to son Phoenix.
He says he wants to “living an example” to his teens by competing at a British-legend fifth Olympic Games appearance for a diver.
“We had probably the most efficient time at time at the Olympic and Paralympic Museum playing totally different games, and at the slay we went into a room to watch a video about what it means to be an athlete and survey these inspirational journeys,” said the three-time world champion.
“I legal wept; I may perhaps not maintain an eye on myself, I hadn’t grieved diving. I hadn’t been doing it anymore and that I in theory had retired and may perhaps not imagine going back to doing it again.
“Coming out of that museum, one thing changed in me and that has lit a new flame and fireplace within me to survey where this goes.
“You never say never and this subsequent duration of time for me is about playing myself and atmosphere an example to Robbie and Phoenix about working hard at one thing you admire.”
Daley made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-archaic at Beijing in 2008 and has gained 18 medals across Olympic Games, World and European Championships, in conjunction with 9 golds.
He opted against returning for the present World Championships, where Great Britain gained three medals, but did not podium within the males’s 10m or 10m synchro.
Daley will probably return at the World Championships desire occasion later this year, ahead of the Doha World Championships in February 2024.
“I don’t know if this is going to be a entirely foolish idea . . . or an opportunity for me to enact this recreationally and have a bit of fun without any stress, or if my physique is going to be able to win back on a diving board and dive half-decently,” he added.
“But you never say never.”