Most Olympians like to talk in the moment of triumph about suffering, tunnel vision and the realisation of some stark and unforgiving goal. As Tom Daley and Noah Williams celebrated their silver medal for Team GB in the 10m synchro platform dive at Paris 2024 the talk was about family, support networks, life balance – and also juice cups.
Daley and Williams produced a performance of sustained precision at the Aquatic Centre to finish second behind the brilliant Chinese pair Yang Hao and Lian Junjie. For Daley a silver medal completes the Olympic set after three bronzes and a gold. But even the moment of triumph contained a reminder of his day job as father of Robbie, five, and Phoenix, one.
“Before the competition had started it felt like we had won. Just being able to be there with my family and my kids is so special,” Daley said.
“They were stood right above the mixed zone when we were doing our interviews. Phoenix did throw his juice cup at me. I’ll have to give it back to him at some point. It nearly took out one of the BBC reporters. It was really nice to have him there and share that.”
The post-competition ceremonials were an opportunity also to pay tribute to the support of his husband, the screen writer Dustin Lance Black, who could be seen weeping in the stands after the final dives.
“The people closest to Olympic athletes don’t get enough credit for how much they really have to sacrifice and support. My husband has been there all year to be able to take the reins with the kids when I’ve gone to training camp or competition.
“He has a career of his own and he has been prepared at times to put that to one side for me to be able to achieve my goals. This year was definitely a spanner in the works because we moved to LA and Lance is getting back on with his career and he has been so supportive to allow me to go back and have another go at an Olympic Games. It’s just so special to have somebody who has your back and supports you unconditionally.”
There were tears for Williams also, who paid tribute to his coach Dave Jenkins, who died in 2021, but played a huge role in propelling him toward this, his first Olympic medal. “Dave was probably the nicest person I ever knew. He took me into international competition and to my first Olympics. I genuinely wouldn’t be here without him. He also taught me what Tom has said, that diving isn’t the most important thing in the world.”
Daley, whose father died in 2011, was visibly moved by his partner’s reaction. “I’ve never seen Noah cry in my whole life, and I know how much this has meant to him. Dave has been such a key part of Noah’s success and career, it’s very sad that he’s not here to be able to see this. But I know both Dave and my dad would be very proud.”
The British pair only began training together in November, a combination of snatched hours at competitions and a week spent around the pool at Daley’s house while Williams was injured.
“I live in LA, he lives in London,” Daley said. “We turned up, winged it together and competed. It is something that wouldn’t be the normal way, but I was in LA because my husband’s work is out there. It was nice to be able to train away from the intensity of the national programme and come back and iron out the final details together.”
Asked if he might re-emerge at the age of 34 for a sixth Olympics in Los Angeles four years from now Daley’s response was intriguing. “I don’t know yet because I went from being the youngest on the team in 2008 to now oldest diver on the team. I want to enjoy this moment and make decisions about the future of diving, for me, later on. I live in LA now so it could be a chance to have a second home Games.”
For now the moment is everything. “Fifteen months ago I was sitting on the sofa doing nothing and today, being able to get back into some kind of competition shape, it’s something I feel very proud to have been able to do.”
