Olympic diver Tom Daley opens up about his personal life and career in the new documentary “1.6 Seconds.” The film shows Daley’s journey from a young diving prodigy to a five-time Olympic medalist. Daley started diving at age seven and quickly showed talent. But being away from home for training and competitions was hard for him.
He would cry at night and feel very homesick. “I used to be terrified of leaving home,” Daley said. “I used to be so scared and worried about everything.” One of his early coaches said Daley once threatened to jump out of a window because he missed home so much.
Daley’s father Robert was his biggest supporter. He drove Tom to practice and cheered for him at competitions. Tom looked forward to seeing his dad in the stands more than anyone else.
Daley’s journey and challenges
“When he was gone from my life, I didn’t really know who to turn to or who to talk to about lots of things,” Daley told PEOPLE magazine. Robert Daley passed away from brain cancer in 2011, just days after Tom turned 17.
Meeting his future husband Dustin Lance Black in 2013 helped Daley open up and be more vulnerable. “I think it was realizing that once you meet your person, you kind of have to be able to be vulnerable and share your thoughts and feelings,” Daley said. Daley and Black got married in 2017.
They now have two sons together, Robby and Phoenix. Daley said his relationship with his own father is a model for the kind of parent he wants to be. “At the end of the day when it comes to my kids, I always feel like I want to be there to support them, love them, care for them.
That’s what my dad instilled in me and that’s what I want to be able to pass on to my kids as well,” Daley told PEOPLE. “1.6 Seconds” is now streaming on Max globally and Olympics.com in the U.S. It gives an intimate look at Daley’s life and shows how he overcame challenges with the support of his family.
