"Why Can't I Look Like That Again?": Tom Daley Opens Up About His Struggle With Body Image
Warning: Discussion about body image and eating disorders.
Tom Daley is opening up about his struggle with body image now that he's retired from diving.
In a profile with The Times, the five-time Olympic medalist opened up about his concerns over his body image and how it affected him throughout his career, before and after retirement.
Tom had been a diver since he was seven years old, and he had dived in his first Olympics at 14 in 2008 as Britain's youngest competitor.
In his career, he's won five Olympic medals, including gold, in Tokyo in 2021.
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In 2024, he announced his retirement after winning the silver at the Paris Olympics in the 10m men's synchronized dive with Noah Williams.
After his photo shoot with The Times for the profile, Tom admitted, "I struggled over there."
@tomdaley / instagram.com
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"I've always had such horrible body issues going through my diving career. Now I'm not an athlete that trains six hours a day, I especially hate it."
Despite the public's perception, Tom was honest about how watching old videos made him feel about his body. "I know if I'm rational about it, I should be completely happy, but seeing videos of what I looked like in the Olympics, I'm, like, why can't I look like that again?"
Since retirement, Tom has lived in West Hollywood with his partner, Dustin Lance Black, and their two children.
"It feels as though that part of me that was a diver is dead," Tom continued.
View this photo on Instagram
"When I watch competitions [on TV] it's as if I'm a spirit looking in from above, thinking, 'If I was in that, I would have done this.' It's really hard. You've got to be in it to win it. But when you're sitting on the sidelines it's like you've been benched for eternity."
Being a champion Olympic athlete, especially after coming out in 2013, put him in the spotlight. "Growing up in the initial ages of social media and gay culture, being held to such a high standard, it's really difficult," Tom said. "Now I need to just have a healthy relationship with my body."
You can read the entire interview here.
The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is 1-800-931-2237; for 24/7 crisis support, text 'NEDA' to 741741.
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