Australia

Tom Daley knits a cosy for his gold medal at the Olympics


British diver Tom Daley has attracted global attention at the Tokyo Olympics not only for his gold medal but for his knitting.

Daley, 27, was photographed knitting in the stands on Sunday during the women’s 3-metre springboard final.

He was snapped again on Monday with the needles hard at work while watching the preliminary round of the men’s 3m springboard.

Daley revealed on Instagram that he had finished a dog jumper as well as a pouch for his gold medal, which he won with Matty Lee in the men’s synchronised 10m platform last week.

Tom Daley shows off his knitted cosy for his gold medal.(

Instagram: madewithlovebytomdaley

)

Fans may not be surprised by Daley’s knitting — separate to his sport profile, he has a dedicated Instagram account to post his “madewithlovebytomdaley” creations.

“This morning I made a little cosy for my medal, to stop it getting scratched.

“Union Jack on one side and the Japanese flag on the other.”

A composite image of Tom Daley knitting, and some dog jumpers he made.
Daley shares his knitted creations on Instagram.(

Instagram: madewithlovebytomdaley

)

Last month Daley raffled off a rainbow jumper he knitted to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity.

Daley’s father, who was one of his son’s greatest supporters, died from a brain tumour in 2011.

‘I’m proud to be a gay man and Olympic champion’

Following his Olympic victory, Daley praised the increasing LGBTQ representation at the Olympics after saying he grew up feeling “alone and different”.

“I feel incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion,” Daley said.

When the 14-year-old Briton made his Olympic debut in 2008, fewer than 20 of his fellow competitors openly identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.

At the 2020 Olympics, that number has grown to more than 160.

Tom Daley and Matty Lee dive off a 10m platform at Tokyo Olympics.
Tom Daley and Matthew Lee in action during the men’s synchronised 10m platform final.(

Reuters: Issei Kato

)

Daley said he hoped young LGBTQ people would feel encouraged with greater representation.

“That you can achieve anything and that there is a whole lot of your chosen family out here, ready to support you.”

Daley, who picked up bronze medals at the London and Rio Games, married Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black in 2017 and welcomed a child in 2018, which he called “the massive turning point” of his career as an athlete.

“At the end of the day, first and foremost I am a father and a husband, and the fact that I’ve won this Olympic gold medal on top of that, alongside Matty, has honestly been a dream come true,” Daley said.

ABC/Reuters





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