2024 Olympics: Tom Daley Reveals His Completed Annual Knitted Sweater

Reflecting upon these extraordinary individuals, I am deeply moved by their resilience, determination, and unwavering passion for their respective sports. Each one of them has etched an indelible mark on their disciplines, inspiring generations to come with their grit, skill, and relentless pursuit of excellence.


Tom Daley dove straight into this craft project at the 2024 Olympics

Maintaining his customary flair, the British diver unveiled his most recent handmade garment – an Olympic Paris-themed sweater, embellished with his personal initials and surname, as well as both the Union Jack and the French flag.

“Tom shared a video on Instagram on July 31st, showing off the sweater he’s been working on in Paris. He explained that it has ‘Paris 24’ emblazoned on the front with both the French and British flags on the bottom, and ‘Daley’ written on the back.”

The man, aged 30, initially filmed without a shirt, later donned the sweater he had made and meticulously described each detail about it.

He indicated, displaying his arm, “There’s a ‘TD’ emblem on this sleeve.” Then, switching arms, he added, “On the other sleeve is number five, representing my fifth Olympic Games participation.”

Tom, who has sons Robbie (age 6) and Phoenix (15 months old) with husband Dustin Lance Black, exuded confidence while twirling in his homemade outfit and striking a pose for the camera, showcasing his self-assured demeanor.

Tom went on, “This is such a delightful memento of my Parisian days. Don’t you find it adorable?”

Naturally, Tom’s fans had lots of praise to share in the comments. 

“Wonderful!” One follower wrote. “Your knitting is always so tidy and looks gorgeous on you!”

Another responded, “I couldn’t possibly love you any more, even if I were trying to craft you with the warmth of a knitted blanket, the joy of a medal-winning game, and the brightness of a sunshiny disposition.”

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held in 2021, a British diver named Tom gained widespread attention for his knitting skills. On the fringes of the competition pool, he was observed engaged in this craft. Later, Tom thanked people for their warm response to his handmade creations and shared why knitting needles and yarn were essential items for him during the Olympics.

“Tom mentioned that he found peace, mindfulness, and stress relief through knitting, which he described as a crucial factor in maintaining his sanity during the process.”

Apart from knitting sweaters, Tom has also crafted mini cases for his Olympic medals. This year, he’ll need to sew at least one more – as he and teammate Noah Williams won the silver medal in the men’s synchronized 10m platform dive earlier in the competition.

However, even if Tom only manages to secure the silver medal and a sweater at the Paris 2024 games, his family will remain incredibly proud of him.

“Dustin shared with BBC Sport, ‘I witnessed the effort and care he invested this time.’ It was deeply touching for the family to observe the hard work and commitment behind the seemingly effortless creation. Today, they saw him and Noah do just that, and we couldn’t be more proud.”

Keep reading to learn more about Tom and other international Olympians.

The renowned British diver Tom Daley doesn’t need to be close to a platform or springboard to get our pulse racing. This skilled knitter, father of two, and husband of Dustin Lance Black is preparing for his fifth Olympics. After securing the top spot on the podium in Tokyo with diving partner Matty Lee for the first time, he’s back to compete again.

Initially, Daly retired in 2021, but a later visit to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado during a family trip altered his plans.

In my own words, reflecting on a heartfelt conversation, I shared with the BBC, “I glanced at me, noticing my tears, and it dawned on him. He knew what those silent drops represented. ‘Oh dear,’ he must have thought. I confided, ‘I’m longing for the Olympics, the thrill of diving in them.’ My little one, Robbie, chimed in with a sparkle in his eyes, ‘But Papa, I yearn to witness you dive in the Olympics.'” This way, the sentiment remains intact while putting the speaker in a more personal perspective.

In Tokyo, Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus emerged as a standout following her victories in both the women’s 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle events. Titmus is strongly tipped to repeat her success—even more so after defeating American Katie Ledecky and setting a new world record in the 400m at the 2023 World Aquatic Championships.

Indeed, the upcoming head-to-head competition involving them and six other contenders on July 27th has been referred to as “The Race of a Century”.

Titmus said to Reuters, “I believe my strongest move is to advance with my best step, so that’s exactly what I’ll do – I’ll give it my all and make my best effort.”

Hang on a moment: Summer McIntosh, the 17-year-old Canadian swimmer, might have some thoughts about that 400m freestyle. At the 2023 U.S. Open Swimming Championships, she outperformed Ledecky in this event and aims to vie for gold in Paris.

Emma McKeon, a talented swimmer, stood out at the Tokyo Olympics by securing more podium finishes than any other athlete in her sport. She claimed four gold and three bronze medals, thus breaking records to become Australia’s most decorated Olympian ever with a total of 11 medals.

The swift athlete has triumphed in both the 50-meter and 100-meter races, making her the one to watch and challenge in these events.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about the men’s tennis event at these games. The draw is brimming with tennis titans, and the possibility of a gold medal match between two giants in the sport has become increasingly tantalizing. The current leader in Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic from Serbia, and the Spanish prodigy, Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked first and second respectively, are set to make a splash. This comes after top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy had to withdraw due to tonsillitis, opening up an intriguing opportunity for these two tennis titans. Let’s see who will rise to the occasion!

Moreover, there are numerous emotional stories to be told, such as Paris marking the last Olympics for Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who forewent Wimbledon to ensure he’d be at his best on his cherished French clay, and Great Britain’s Andy Murray.

In a nod to their legendary Dream Team predecessors, the U.S. men’s basketball team consistently delivers outstanding performances. On the other hand, Milwaukee Bucks standout Giannis Antetokounmpo proudly represents his native Greece in his Olympic debut. Notably, he will lead the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony on July 26.

Initially, he needed to guide Greece towards the Olympics for the first time since 2008. The two-time league MVP expressed an indescribable sense of satisfaction when they triumphed over Croatia to secure qualification. “It’s a truly remarkable feeling,” he stated, “as I have dreamed since my childhood about participating in the Olympic Games.”

Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks’ standout player, will spearhead the Slovenian squad as they aim to rectify their defeat in the bronze medal match against Australia.

In Tokyo, the five-time NBA All-Star admitted that our team came up slightly short. I frequently reminisce about those moments, he shared with Sports Illustrated. “We truly experienced bad luck,” he said. “We faced challenges all summer. Our goal was to win a medal, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. For us, this only fuels our determination even more.”

The NBA’s 7-foot-4 runaway pick for league Rookie of the Year is home for the Olympics.

Victor Wembanyama, star of the San Antonio Spurs, expressed his disbelief to reporters at the French national basketball team’s training camp: “It’s hard to accept that this is really the Olympics.” He added that the reality won’t fully hit him until he first hears the French national anthem, Marseillaise, as it remains a dream for now.

Shericka Jackson, the current national champion in the 100-meter dash and a silver medalist at the 2023 World Athletic Championships from Jamaica, aims to upgrade her bronze medal won in Tokyo to a more valuable one in Paris.

Additionally, she along with her fellow team members aim to protect their Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay, but unfortunately, they’ll have to do so without Elaine Thompson-Herah. Regrettably, due to a torn Achilles, she was unable to compete at the Paris trials for the upcoming Olympics, where she previously won the 100 meters and 200 meters in both of the last two Games.

The renowned Jamaican sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won the gold medal for the 100 meters in both 2008 and 2012, has announced that she plans to compete in her fifth Olympic Games, but it will mark the end of her career.

The athlete, aged 37 and a parent to Zyon born in 2017, expressed his need to Essence.com. He’s been with his partner, Jason Pryce, since before his Olympic victory in 2008. Together they’ve made sacrifices for each other. They form a partnership, a team. The support they’ve given one another has allowed him to achieve what he has over the years. Now, he feels it’s time to repay that debt and do something else.

Aitana Bonmatí, the current Ballon d’Or Féminin holder and key contributor to FC Barcelona’s fifth straight league championship in May, will be spearheading Spain’s highly-rated women’s national soccer squad in Paris.

In the aftermath of Spain’s triumphant 2023 World Cup, Bonmatí was among those who openly expressed their support for fellow player Jenni Hermoso, who had received an unwanted kiss from Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales following the win.

In public gatherings, it’s crucial that we don’t tolerate misuse of authority or disregard in the workplace, Bonmati emphasized during her acceptance speech for the European Women’s Player of the Year award at the UEFA Club Football Awards. To all women experiencing similar hardships as Jenni, know that you have our support.

As an ardent admirer of Jamaican sprinting, I can’t help but marvel at how each new generation seems to birth champions. The legendary Usain Bolt, with his unbeaten Olympic record (8-0), set a standard that’s hard to surpass. Yet, the spotlight is shining brightly on Kishane Thompson as he prepares for Paris. He’s being touted as the hot favorite, and it seems like an inevitable clash in the 100 meters is looming with the U.S. track and field sensation, Noah Lyles. The anticipation is palpable!

Whoever wins gold will be just be considered the fastest man in the world, no big deal.

Among the veteran athletes participating in Paris, 41-year-old Ayumi Fukushima, also known as B-girl Ayumi, didn’t start breakdancing until she was 21 years old. This meant that she had to compete against many young dancers on her journey to becoming one of the top breakdancers globally on her own.

In Fukushima’s own words to Number Web, she explained, “Since there was no coach, I was essentially self-taught. I learned dance moves from more experienced dancers and friends I trained with, and honed my skills by practicing. It was as if I had always been learning this way.”

Speaking about the new Olympic sport set to take place in Paris, she shared her enthusiasm by saying, “It has a rhythm to it, just like music, and I find myself moving along with it. Ever since I started, I’ve been captivated by that sensation, which might be why I’ve continued practicing for so long.”

At the 2023 WDSF World and European Breaking Championships held in Paris, it was 17-year-old Dominika Banevic who outshone B-girl Ayumi, making her the youngest competitor among the 32 athletes participating in the event.

Not that it makes any difference.

“According to Banevic, age is irrelevant during competition. Some people may feel intimidated by opponents who have more experience, but when you’re in the heat of battle, you don’t focus on their years of training compared to yours. Instead, you’re fully engaged in the current moment, only aware of yourself and your adversary.”

PGA Tour standout Rory McIlroy has encountered some setbacks recently, narrowly missing out on winning the U.S. Open after a disappointing final hole, and failing to qualify for the weekend play at the British Open – performances that are quite unusual for the four-time major tournament winner.

He aims to correct the course when he starts playing at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Paris.

Despite being born in Northern Ireland, a region within the United Kingdom, he declined an offer to represent Great Britain in sports events back in 2016.

Speaking about my past experiences playing as an amateur for Ireland and when I was a child, he stated at that moment, “I believe it’s the right choice for me to represent Ireland in 2016.” Despite opting out of the Rio Olympics due to Zika virus worries, he went on to play for Ireland during the Tokyo games.

Known as the greatest table tennis player ever, Ma Long, was surprisingly not included in China’s individual lineup, ruling out his chance to win a third consecutive gold medal. However, the exceptional athlete nicknamed “The Dragon” will remain part of the team, ready to guide his fellow players as they strive for their fourth consecutive team gold.

As the Olympics approach again, swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook aims to protect his 200-meter breaststroke gold medal won at Tokyo, and continue his tradition of placing first in the prestigious top swimmer contest.

The athlete, who earned a bronze medal in the 4×100 mixed medley in Tokyo, expressed on the SwimSwam Podcast in January his reason for continuing to swim. He stated that he persists because he feels there are still opportunities within swimming, which is likely why he’s still in the pool today. In other words, if he didn’t feel there was room for improvement in his breaststroke or believed he had already achieved his best race, then perhaps that would be the day he hangs up his swimsuit.

2021 Olympic bronze medalist high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh aims to win gold next time, having surpassed the 37-year-old world record in an early July Diamond League competition by vaulting over a bar at 2.10 meters (6 feet 8.8 inches). The previous best was 2.09 meters.

Just as numerous fellow citizens do, Mahuchikh has utilized her position to voice concerns for her conflict-stricken homeland. In June, as reported by ESPN, she declared, “We are all fighting for our people, for our soldiers.” She continued, “We aim to demonstrate to the world that we will persist in our struggle, regrettably, as Ukraine’s war is not yet over. We strive to excel in every arena to prove that Ukraine remains strong.”

If it seems to you like Marta has been the leading striker for the Brazilian women’s soccer team for an eternity, then your assumption is quite near the mark.

After winning silver with the Brazilian team Canarinhas in 2004 and 2008, popularly known as “Queen Marta” (born Marta Vieira da Silva), is participating in her sixth and last Olympics. She has declared that she will be retiring from international competitions after Paris.

“There will be no more Marta from 2025 in the national team as an athlete,” the 38-year-old told CNN in April. “I am very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes.”

Eliud Kipchoge, who has triumphed in the past two Olympic marathon races, aims to make history as the sole male athlete to secure a third victory.

“Anything with a start also has an end, and the athlete, who is nearly at the end of his career, shared this perspective with GQ. Even if one retires from sports when they’re not performing as well as before, finding inspiration remains crucial. If you can still inspire someone in Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Haiti, America, or anywhere else – like India, China, Japan, or a small island nation – that’s the goal. Or if people continue to look up to you from far-off places such as the Maldives, that’s what it’s all about.”

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2024-07-31 22:19