Paris Olympics: Former gold medalist Tom Daley retires from diving, tells Vogue the timing was right

Former Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley announced his retirement from diving on Monday after the Paris Games.

Daley, who won five Olympic medals during his decorated career, revealed his decision to quit the sport during an interview with British Vogue.

The 30-year-old withdrew after winning silver in the men’s 10m synchronized platform in France, having previously claimed gold in the same event at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

“I have to make the decision at some point, and this feels like the right time. It’s the right time to call it a day,” Daley said.

Daley emerged as the star of British diving after competing in the Olympics for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Games aged just 14.

He won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics in the 10m platform, as well as bronze in the men’s synchronized 10m platform at Rio 2016.

Daley effectively retired after winning the gold medal in Tokyo, before deciding to return for a fifth Olympics in Paris to compete in front of his two sons.

“It feels very, very surreal. I felt incredibly nervous going into it, knowing it was my last Olympics,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure and expectations. I was looking forward to it being done.”

“But when I walked out, and I saw my husband (Lance) and my kids (Robbie and Phoenix) and my friends and family in the audience, I was like, you know what? This is exactly why I did this.

“It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing that it would be my last competitive dive.”