Tom Daley retires, speaks out on "emotional" end to diving career

"It feels very, very surreal," he told Vogue. "I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics.

"There was a lot of pressure and expectations. I was eager for it to be done. But when I walked out, and saw my husband [Dustin Lance Black] and kids, and my friends and family in the audience, I was like, 'You know what? This is exactly why I did this.'"

Daley first competed in the 2008 Olympic Games at just 14 years old and has gone on to compete in the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 games.

He continued: "It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive. But I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time. It’s the right time to call it a day."

Daley is one of Team GB's most decorated divers. He has won five medals at five Olympic games and became the first Team GB diver to win four Olympic medals.

In an interview with BBC News, Daley said: "It's hard to talk about... I have to hang it up some time but I'm very proud."

"It's just very overwhelming," he said teary-eyed. "I'm just very proud of my career... Right now it's a lot but I'm really happy with how everything has gone.

"I just think it's always hard when you say goodbye to your sport so [there are] lots of things to process, but I think it's the right time."

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