‘I felt helpless for my younger self': Tom Daley on growing up in the spotlight
Tom Daley said he 'felt helpless' for his younger self as he reflected on growing up in the spotlight.
The British Olympic diving gold medallist retired after the Paris 2024 Olympics, having first risen to fame at the 2008 Beijing Games aged 14.
'There's all kinds of things I didn't even know I should have tried to protect from a young age,' he told The Independent at the premiere of 1.6 Seconds, a documentary featuring unseen footage from his journey as a young teen.
'Maybe if it was growing up in this day and age and having social media, I might have had a little more control over what was released and the narrative.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Euromillions results: Tonight's winning lottery numbers revealed with huge £199m jackpot up for grabs
One lucky ticket-holder could have just bagged the biggest EuroMillions win the UK has ever seen as the winning lottery numbers are revealed. In a record EuroMillions draw, Tuesday's jackpot was an estimated £199 million. If a UK player has scooped the top prize, it would mark the largest win the country has seen, National Lottery operator Allwyn said. Tuesday's National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are 12, 15, 38, 47, 48. The Lucky Stars are 05, 07. No-one won the EuroMillions jackpot on Friday, meaning the top prize rolled over into Tuesday's draw. In around an hour, it will be revealed if the top prize has rolled over again – or if a lucky ticket-holder has bagged the 'massive life-changing win'. They would have become richer than the likes of Dua Lipa, who is worth an estimated £104 million, and Harry Kane, reportedly worth around £91million. If a player has won and they are from the UK, this would land them at the number one spot of The National Lottery's biggest scoops, according to Allwyn. Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at Allwyn, explained: 'If a single UK ticket-holder wins the lot, they'll instantly become richer than the likes of Dua Lipa and Harry Kane whilst landing at the number one spot of The National Lottery's biggest wins.' An Anonymous UK ticket-holder scooped the existing record jackpot of £195 million on 19 July 2022. Just two months earlier, Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, won a then record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on 10 May 2022. At the time, Joe was a communications sales engineer, and Jess ran a hairdressing salon with her sister. The UK's third biggest win came after an anonymous ticket-holder scooped the £177 million jackpot in the draw on 26 November last year. The winner became immediately wealthier than popstar Dua Lip and Michael Buble, who is worth around £63 million.
Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Imane Khelif breaks silence after leaked medical report ‘proves Olympic gender-row boxer is a biological male'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IMANE KHELIF has issued a response after a leaked medical report claimed the gold medal-winning Olympian was a "biological male". Khelif, 26, won Algeria's first-ever female gold medal in boxing during the Paris Games in 2024. 2 Imane Khelif won Algeria's first-ever gold medal in women's boxing at the Paris Olympics Credit: Reuters 2 But the gender row which plagued Khelif then has now resurfaced from a leaked medical report Credit: AP However, during Khelif's run to the final, she was embroiled in a bitter gender row after being banned from International Boxing Association competition in 2023. The IBA banned Khelif after tests taken in New Delhi allegedly produced the DNA of a 'male'. The IOC - who replaced the IBA as the Olympic's boxing governing body - were warned about the tests and urged to remove Khelif from the competition. But Khelif was allowed to box in Paris because of her female passport status. Now, the alleged sex-test results from the 2023 World Championships have been published for the first time by 3 Wire Sports, and suggest the boxer is biologically male. American journalist Alan Abrahamson produced the result of a test said to have been carried out on the boxer in New Delhi in March 2023 - which triggered the boxer's disqualification. The document published summarises the findings on Khelif as 'abnormal', stating: 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype." A karyotype refers to an individual's complete set of chromosomes, which in Khelif's case has been reported by (IBA) as being XY, the male pattern. Khelif refused to respond directly to the claims in a social media post on Monday, instead focusing on her work as a Unicef ambassador - a role she has held since January 2024. The post featured a photo of Khelif wearing a blue polo bearing the organisation's logo as she made a heart symbol with her hands to celebrate the "Global Day of Parents". Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold in women's welterweight final after huge gender row that has grabbed worldwide attention She paid tribute to her own parents in the caption, saying: "Today, I became a champion, but it all started long ago. When my parents believed in me, even when the dream felt too big. "When they supported me, listened to me, and stood by me. Being a parent isn't easy. There's no manual. But the love, patience, and trust you give your child can change everything. "On this #GlobalDayOfParents, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every parent who chooses, every single day, to be there for their children. "Together with @unicefalgerie, I'm celebrating these everyday heroes. Because when parents are supported, children can dream and succeed." The alleged test results disputing Khelif's gender carry the letterhead of Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the Swiss-based International Organisation for Standardisation. This directly challenges what IOC spokesman Mark Adams said in a tense news conference at the Paris Olympics. He described the results that saw Khelif banned as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate'. IOC president Thomas Bach even claimed that the results are the product of a Russian-led misinformation campaign. It followed after the IBA - headed by Russia's Umar Kremlev - had been stripped of IOC recognition in a row over ethics and financial management. Khelif has always denied being a biological male and even named JK Rowling and Elon Musk in a cyberbullying lawsuit. And the 26-year-old has vowed to fight on, even eyeing another gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But World Boxing has ruled that Khelif is ineligible to enter future events as a woman without first submitting to the same chromosome testing that has already triggered the boxer's disqualification at global level. The governing body - provisionally approved to run Olympic boxing in LA - announced that all athletes in its competitions over 18 years old must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex. The test detects chromosomal material through a mouth swab, saliva or blood. Khelif has failed to provide any evidence of having female chromosomes in the nine months since the gender scandal erupted. In February, Khelif spoke out in her defence and wrote: 'For two years, I have taken the high road while my name and image have been used, unauthorised, to further personal and political agendas through the spreading and dissemination of baseless lies and misinformation. But silence is no longer an option. 'The IBA, an organisation that I am no longer associated with and which is no longer recognised by the IOC, have again made baseless accusations that are false and offensive, using them to further their agenda... 'My team is carefully reviewing the situation and will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that my rights and the principles of fair competition are upheld." An IOC spokesperson told Sun Sport: "The IOC has always made it clear that eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the respective International Federation. "The factors that matter to sports performance are unique to each sport, discipline, and/or event. "We await the full details how sex testing will be implemented in a safe, fair and legally enforceable way."
The Sun
20 minutes ago
- The Sun
Topshop confirms it'll open STORES as website to launch later this year
IN a sea of closures and retail struggle, Topshop is bucking the trend and opening stores this year. The brand aims to relaunch Topshop and Topman for its loyal millennial fans and newcomers, both online and brick-and-mortar. 2 In 2021, Topshop and Miss Selfridge were purchased by Asos, following the collapse of former owner Arcadia. They were sold for a combined price of £330million. But in September last year, Asos sold a 75 percent stake in Topshop and Topman for around £135million to Danish holding company Heartland. At the time of the deal, Asos planned on relaunching and by August this year. Michelle Wilson, MD at Topshop and Topman, told Drapers that the brand has something up its sleeve for August. But that's just the beginning - Topshop and Topman will return to the high street for autumn via a wholesale partner. 'We have something planned in August to bring Topshop back into real life again, with a more semi-permanent presence than the one-day pop-up,' she said. 'In the shorter term that will be something with partner support and in the longer term we will do something standalone." Wilson said she was "excited to see Topshop back in person" and said their collaboration "will surprise people". In April this year, Topshop launched a pop-up at Defected Records and shoppers went wild for it. Pull&Bear Opens New Flagship Store at Silverburn: Fashion Fans Celebrate in Glasgow! They recorded a sale every three minutes, which Topshop bosses have said is proof that there is demand for the adored store. Wilson added that they aren't trying to "recreate" the Topshop that millions knew and loved. She explained that the clothing store will be given a 2025 makeover to allow it to compete with the current climate. Wilson hinted that the shop will offer experiences, much like its industry-leading Oxford Street flagship store. The once-thriving London branch offered nail bars and piercing parlours. Topshop and Topman bosses also revealed that it is "not going after a specific age demographic." However, for the now thirty-somethings whose wardrobes were packed full of Topshop garms in the early 2000s, there's more good news. Traditional favourites like the Jamie and Joni jeans will be here to stay, as well as the new Asos-era bestsellers like the wide-leg Cinch jean. Wilson teased shoppers and said that they should expect Topshop's more casual side, as well as the formal "going out" pieces. In April, Asos CEO José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, announced the return of He said: "The first step of this comeback is This will be a standalone website, which will exclusively sell the legendary brand's clothing and is expected to launch in the second half of the year. Topshop was founded in 1964 youth-focused offshoot of the department store Peter Robinson. It became a leader in trend-driven fashion and was a staple on the high street. Topshop was known for offering affordable, yet stylish, clothing that closely mirrored runway trends. However, the retail landscape began to shift in the 2010s, with growing competition from online retailers and changing consumer habits. The Sun has approached Topshop for comment.
