Tokyo 2020 Olympics: 'Holy tornado!' – Tom Daley 'overwhelmed' after winning diving gold with Matty Lee

ByJack Bantock

Updated 26/07/2021 at 11:15 GMT

Thirteen years on from his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old in Beijing, Tom Daley's incredible story has a long-awaited new chapter: gold medallist. Daley and Matty Lee put in an incredible performance at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre to pip favourites China to gold, winning with a score of 471.81 to China's 470.58.

An emotional Tom Daley searched high and low for the words to sum up his incredible gold medal victory alongside Matty Lee in the synchronized 10-metre platform, settling with "holy tornado!".

A nail-biting finish saw Daley and Lee neck-and-neck with Chinese favourites Chen Aisen and Cao Yuan, but the British pair held their nerve to seal a famous victory and spark delirium amongst those in Team GB colours around the pool at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Having been just 14 years old when he made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 before winning back-to-back bronzes in London and Rio, the triumph marks the pinnacle of a stunning journey for Daley.

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“Honestly, it’s actually overwhelming”, the 27-year-old told Eurosport.

I’ve been diving for 20 years now and this is my fourth Olympic Games and it’s been my childhood dream for ever to stand on top of the podium and to do that alongside one of your best friends, to be able to share that… holy tornado!

“We put so much hard work, effort and sacrifice into getting this piece of metal round your neck – it means everything.”

'It's finally come true!' - Daley and Lee emotional on podium with gold medals

Becoming a parent to son Robert alongside husband Dustin Lance Black in 2018, it was Daley’s first Games as a father.

The fact that this overlapped with a long-awaited gold medal was no coincidence for the diver, with his husband prophesying the diver’s triumph.

Daley said: “Back in 2016 I was heartbroken and devastated, that was the Olympics I thought I was going to win a gold medal.

When I didn’t, it was Lance that said to me ‘Tom this isn’t the end of your story, and maybe our child is meant to be there to watch you win an Olympic gold.’

"The fact that my son watched me win an Olympic gold medal with Matty, I honestly can’t believe it and I just feel like such a proud parent right now. This whole experience with Matty has just been awesome, I’m overwhelmed."

Daley, pronounced as Britain’s diving golden-boy from a young age, joked before the Games that he felt like the ‘granddad’ of the GB diving team, with many speculating a retirement date.

'History made!' - Watch incredible moment Daley and Lee realise they're Olympic champions

When asked about the prospect of one more Olympics though, Daley didn’t rule out a return in Paris in 2024.

“I’ll see how my body goes. Individual platform might be a push to keep going with because that’s the hardest on your body," he said.

“I’m definitely going to take a year out and just give my body a little bit of a break.

“It’s only three years to go now, it’s basically a hop, skip and a jump and it’s the next one!”

For Lee meanwhile, four years Daley’s junior, it is one Games, one gold.

Having made big sacrifices to get to the Games, the 23-year-old could not have dreamed of a better debut, breaking China’s 21-year gold winning streak in the event.

'Take a bow!' - Daley and Lee 'nail it' with final dive to win gold

“I had to move my life from Leeds to London just under three years ago. To do synchro you’ve got to train together all the time,” Lee said.

“I didn’t have a lot of friends in London, all my friends are back in Leeds and my family too, so I made a huge sacrifice and I honestly can’t believe it’s finally paid off.

“I’m actually confused, I don’t understand!”

Daley and Lee’s success added to a flurry of Team GB medals on Monday, with Tom Pidcock winning gold in the men’s cross country mountain bike event mere minutes later.

Adam Peaty had kick-started the rush in the early hours, continuing his unprecedented reign of dominance in the pool with a win in the 100m breaststroke final for Team GB’s first Tokyo gold.

In doing so, the 26-year-old became the first Brit to win consecutive Olympic titles in the pool, another piece of history to add to Peaty’s glittering career reel.

There was more Team GB joy to be found in the men’s triathlon, where London-born 23-year-old Alex Yee won a silver medal.

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