Tom Daley wants to inspire LGBT youth: 'You can achieve anything'

Tom Daley wants to inspire LGBT youth: 'You can achieve anything'

Tom Daley aspires to be a positive role model for LGBT children.

On Monday (26.07.21), the 27-year-old diver earned his first-ever Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, despite the fact that he "didn't believe" he'd ever be an Olympic champion as a "gay guy."

Tom thinks that now that he has realised his ambition, he may encourage other LGBT children to believe that they can "accomplish anything."

“I am extremely pleased to announce that I am a homosexual guy and an Olympic champion,” he stated following his triumph with diving partner Matty Lee. I used to believe that because of who I was, I would never be able to achieve anything. Being an Olympic winner today just proves that everything is possible.

“In terms of publicly out competitors, these Olympic Games had more openly out athletes than any prior Olympic Games. I came out in 2013, and as a kid, I always felt like I was the odd one out, the one who didn't fit in. There was always going to be something about me that wasn't going to be as excellent as what society expected of me. I hope that any young LGBT person can realise that they are not alone, no matter how isolated they may feel right now. You are capable of doing anything.”

Despite winning gold, Tom stated that his career is far from done, but that he would take a vacation to spend time with his spouse, Dustin Lance Black, and their three-year-old son Robbie.

“You want to win an Olympic gold medal but never believe you will,” he continued. I'll keep going, but I'm going to take a break. To celebrate with my spouse and family, I have some beverages with my name on them.

“This means a great deal to me. Every athlete puts a lot of effort and commitment into their achievements. It feels incredibly amazing to be an Olympic champion after four attempts.”

Tom also described his son's arrival in 2018 as "life-changing."

“I can't wait to meet them, my spouse and my kid, to give them a huge embrace and be able to rejoice on this fantastic trip that it has been,” he told reporters.