Tom Daley has spent most of his life falling gracefully from great heights. But in a revealing new chapter, the British diving legend—Olympian, LGBTQ+ trailblazer, and national treasure—is taking the plunge into something far more daunting than a 10-meter platform: vulnerability.
In a disarmingly open interview with The Times, Daley, 30, peeled back the polished veneer of his athletic career to share something many queer folks will find heartbreakingly familiar: the lifelong battle with body image. His upcoming documentary 1.6 Seconds, premiering June 1 on Discovery+, isn’t just about sport—it’s about identity, grief, pressure, and the struggle for self-acceptance in a world obsessed with perfection.
Let’s be clear: Tom Daley is the kind of guy who can wear a pair of speedos like most people wear socks. And yet, in a twist of tragic irony, he admitted during his Times shoot that he “struggled” with the whole experience.
“I hate the way I look,” Daley confessed. “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.”
“I know if I’m rational about it, I should be completely happy,” he added. “But seeing videos of what I looked like in the Olympics, I’m like, why can’t I look like that again?”
It’s a raw sentiment that cuts through the glitter of elite sport and dives into the dark undertow familiar to many queer people—especially gay men—navigating impossible standards of beauty.
Unrealistic Ideals & Queer Realities
Daley’s body image struggles didn’t suddenly surface post-retirement. They’ve haunted him since the early days of his career, a fact he unpacked with clarity and candor.
“I remember looking in the mirror in, say, 2016, and hating the way that I looked,” he said. “And then you flash forward ten years and you’re, like, I wish I looked like that. Why didn’t I just appreciate it?”
It’s the curse of hindsight—and a brutally honest reminder of how perfection is a moving target, especially in a culture where filters and thirst traps set the bar impossibly high.
“Growing up in the initial ages of social media and gay culture, being held to such a high standard—it’s really difficult,” he explained. “Now I need to just have a healthy relationship with my body.”
From Instagram’s grid of abs to the endless cycle of “before and after” posts, Daley’s commentary lands with a gut-punch of recognition. He’s not just speaking for himself—he’s giving voice to countless queer people struggling with the tyranny of unattainable aesthetics.
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Praising the Body, Poisoning the Mind
Daley also addressed the double-edged sword of being publicly celebrated for his physique. While such praise might sound flattering, it quickly becomes a trap.
“For so long, I was praised for my body,” he said. “But praise can turn toxic when it becomes the only way you feel validated.”
That kind of praise can be addictive—and cruelly conditional. It turns the body into a battleground where worth is measured in six-packs and symmetry.
And for Daley, it didn’t stop at the pool’s edge.
Behind the Smile: Bullying, Grief, and Coming Out
Daley’s new documentary 1.6 Seconds doesn’t just tackle sport—it revisits the trauma that shaped him: being bullied in school, grieving the loss of his father Robert to brain cancer in 2011, and coming out publicly in a 2013 YouTube video.
“I would have things thrown at me—scissors, for example,” Daley told Closer magazine. “It got so bad that one of the teachers gave me a key to their classroom so that I could sit in there at lunchtime.”
Though he appreciated the refuge, it came at a cost.
“It was good for a while, but then you feel like you’re ‘shut in’, which is not how you want to spend your life.”
That image—of a young boy hiding from torment while dreaming of Olympic gold—is gutting. And yet, in typical Daley fashion, it’s also a story of transformation.
A Legacy Beyond Medals
Daley’s public reckoning with body image, bullying, and queer visibility underscores why he remains such a vital figure. He’s not just an athlete—he’s an advocate, a dad, a husband, and a complex human being.
“I may not dive competitively anymore,” he said, “but I’m still diving into who I really am.”
In a culture that still loves to shout “Yas queen!” at shirtless Instagram thirst traps but shies away from honest conversations about dysmorphia, Daley’s voice is refreshing. And necessary.
Because sometimes the most courageous leap isn’t off a platform. It’s the truth.
@discoveryplusuk What does it take to chase greatness? Just 1.6 Seconds. Watch the Tom Daley 1.6 Seconds trailer now 🎥 Streaming 1 June on discovery+ Also available on TNT Sports & Really (UK), Max (Europe), and Olympics.com (Outside Europe).
Tom Daley’s 1.6 Seconds premieres June 1 on Discovery+.
Whether you’ve struggled with the mirror, social media, or your place in the world—this one’s for every queer kid who ever felt “shut in” and every adult still learning how to let themselves out.
Source: TheTimes and NZ Yahoo News