Latest news with #1.6Seconds
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Tom Daley: 'I've blocked out so many traumatic parts of my childhood'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video From the moment Tom Daley made history by becoming Great Britain's youngest ever competitor at an Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, we as a nation have taken for granted what an open book he has been. If hurtling off a 10m diving board at speeds of up to 33mph wasn't intimidating enough, Tom has had to endure intense scrutiny over the years, including when he came out in 2013, and when he suffered the heartbreaking loss of his father when he was 17 years old. Speaking to Metro ahead of the release of his new Discovery Plus documentary – which is titled 1.6 Seconds, in reference to the time it takes for a diver to hit the water from a 10m board – the Celebrity Traitors star has once again bared all. Within the feature-length documentary, Tom sheds light on how he was never properly able to grieve the death of his father and instead compartmentalised that trauma to focus on his diving career. That struggle, alongside some surprising lows in a career that saw him earn five Olympic medals, weaves in and out of a breathtakingly inspiring diving journey. But, speaking to me from inside a posh London hotel while wearing a (shock) immaculately knitted jumper, Tom shared what it was like to watch never-before-seen archival footage of himself as a child with his father. 'In the documentary I was sitting in a room where I was interviewed for about seven hours talking about my dad and then seeing pictures of me and him when I was really young as a baby, it really got me,' Tom said. 'There's so many parts of my childhood and life that – because it's difficult enough growing up away – you end up blocking out so many of the traumatic things. 'You like to think about all of the amazing things that you got to do and the fun times that you had with your friends and your family, so reliving some of the more difficult parts of my life were challenging.' In May 2011, Tom's father, Robert Daley, died at the age of 40 after suffering from brain cancer. At the time, then-17-year-old Tom paid tribute to his dad in a statement posted on social media, writing: 'If I could be half the dad that my Dad was to me then that would be my best achievement! I love you!' Throughout his early diving career, Robert was a constant presence at his competitions, even at the point when he was getting his brain tumour removed. At one particularly poignant moment in the documentary, Tom tells how his father pushed back his brain surgery by two weeks just to make sure he could be at a diving tournament for Tom. During the interview with Metro, the diving great explained that he's 'way more vulnerable' in his new documentary than he ever usually is. 'I've seen the documentary many times with different cuts, but it's going to be the first time I see it with my mum and my grandma and my friends, so that's going to be quite an emotional one,' he said. The decision to make the documentary came at a pivotal moment in his life – just before he decided that he was going to return to the Olympics to compete one last time at Paris 2024. 'It felt like it was the time to do the whole life career moment,' he stated. 'But I also felt incredibly lucky to have lots of archival footage that my dad had filmed and I saw lots of it for the very first time.' The dad-of-two shared how much it means for his own children to witness the relationship that he had with his father, as well as to see how what their own dad has achieved in his career. 'That's something that I'm really grateful for,' he shared. 'My kids are going to be able to look back and maybe one day see the things that I got up to.' Looking back on his childhood, Tom acknowledged that there a certain things he might have missed out on, as he didn't have a 'normal' upbringing. 'But I also got the opportunity to see and do so many cool things that lots of my friends didn't have the opportunity to do. So I think there's definitely a balance there,' he added. Tom continued: 'I don't necessarily regret anything that I did or sacrificed, because at the end of the day from the age of nine or 10 I was saying that I wanted to win an Olympic gold medal. Yes, there were things that I had to sacrifice, but in the end, I got there. So when that happens, it's worthwhile.' Throughout a glittering career, Tom has won five Olympic medals, including one Gold, one Silver and three Bronze, making him Britain's most decorated diver. He also holds multiple World, Commonwealth and European Championship gold medals, and became a world champion at just the age of 13. In addition to his diving talents, Tom has also made a name for himself in the world of knitting in recent years. This meant I couldn't end the interview without asking Tom about his perfectly knitted jumper, and also whether he had any big projects lined up. More Trending On top of recently starring in Channel 4's new Game of Wool, Tom revealed that he has a secret 'naughty knitting list' for celebrities, and he has given cardigans to the likes of Sharon Stone, Cynthia Eo and Ariana Grande. Did this make me insanely jealous that I would likely never receive a knitted jumper from Tom? Of course it did, yes. Learning about Tom's struggles not just inside of the pool, but also as he navigated coming out as gay when he had the world at his feet, all on top of reckoning with the death of his father, was, rather simply, life-affirming. View More » 1.6 Seconds is available to watch on Discovery Plus from June 1. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I found Tom Daley's new documentary heartbreaking and uncomfortable – but it's a vital watch MORE: Stacey Dooley had to get permission from sheriff to 'take baby daughter to a brothel' MORE: Netflix fans disturbed by 'haunting' trailer for OceanGate sub documentary
ITV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Diver Tom Daley hints at getting back in the pool if London hosts 2040 Olympic Games
Watch: Tom Daley and director Vaughan Civell on the red carpet for new documentary 1.6 Seconds. Tom Daley has hinted he would return to Stratford's Olympic swimming pool if the 2040 Games return to London. Speaking to ITV News London in Soho on Thursday, the decorated diver said if a bid for London to host the Games is approved it "might get me out of retirement." "Can you imagine how old will I be? I'll be 46," he added. He said: "There's something that's so special about London. I just love being here. The atmosphere, the energy here is so incredible. "The London Aquatic Centre is still to this day one of the best aquatic centres in the whole world. It will hold a very special place in my heart for a very long time." The five-time Olympic medalist confirmed his retirement from diving in August last year, during the Paris 2024 Games. The 31-year-old won silver alongside Noah Williams in the men's synchronised 10m platform in Paris to complete his set of medals, now with one of every colour. Daley, whose new documentary 1.6 Seconds premiered last night, first competed in the 2008 Games at the age of 14. He won bronze in London 2012 and again in Tokyo in 2021 on the 10m platform. In 2016 in Rio he secured a third bronze in the men's synchronised 10m platform. The Olympian managed gold with teammate Matty Lee in Tokyo 2021 in the synchronised 10m platform. How likely is it that London will host the 2040 Olympics? London Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan has been open about wanting to host the Olympics in 2040 saying the city would be able to reuse venues from the 2012 Olympics and allow London to stage the "greenest games ever". Last month, Khan told The Times he believes that positive economic impact should drive an ambition to make London the sporting capital of the world – including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 15 years' time. 'I would like to see London become the first city to host the Games four times,' he said. 'And if we have the World (Athletics) Championships in 2029, it means in the lead-up there's energy, enthusiasm and investment in track and field. 'Globally, everyone loves coming to London. And we've managed to stage a good event every year in the London Diamond League. I'm in favour of this. "We could knock it out of the park in relation to the Olympics, using the assets we already have in the aquatics centre, the stadium, the velodrome." London last hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Having the Games again in 2040 would cap a golden period which would include hosting the men's football Euros in 2028 and the Women's World Cup in 2035.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch: Tom Daley reflects on being young and famous
Tom Daley expressed feeling "helpless" for his younger self, reflecting on the challenges of growing up in the public eye. Daley, who retired after the Paris 2024 Olympics, first gained fame at age 14 during the 2008 Beijing Games. He shared his reflections at the premiere of 1.6 Seconds, a documentary featuring unseen footage from his early career. Daley suggested that social media, if available during his youth, might have given him more control over his public image and narrative. Daley highlighted the difficulties of protecting himself from various challenges as a young athlete in the spotlight.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Tom Daley urges men to ditch traditional notions of masculinity: ‘What does that mean in 2025?'
has urged men to let go of traditional notions of masculinity, saying that you should 'not always conform to what society says you should be'. 'As long as you and your friends are happy and healthy, and you're not hurting anyone else, just live your life and be you', the Olympic gold medallist told The Independent at the premiere of 1.6 Seconds, a documentary featuring unseen footage from his journey as a young teen. Daley questioned what the word masculinity means in 2025, adding that he believes that 'there are so many versions of it'. The British diver retired after the Paris 2024 Olympics, having first risen to fame at the 2008 Beijing Games aged 14. He is married to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, and the pair have two sons.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Tom Daley reveals his pain for what he went through as a teen: ‘I felt helpless'
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.'
