Tom Daley was left stunned after finally ending his wait to win an Olympic gold medal, the 27-year-old diver victorious in the men's synchronised 10m platform event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Daley burst onto the scene at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at the age of 14, before going on to claim bronze medals at both the London and Rio Games.
But, along with Matty Lee, Daley got Team GB's second gold medal in Tokyo with a flawless final dive, ending China's dominance in the process.
China had won gold at every Olympics dating back to Sydney 2000, and Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen gave it an almighty effort in response to Daley and Lee's final score of 471.81.
Their late charge was in vain, though, with China's duo tallying up 470.58 – the appearance of that figure on the big screen inside the venue sending Daley and Lee into wild celebrations.
"I still can't honestly believe what is happening," an emotional Daley told BBC Sport. "That moment, being about to be announced as Olympic champions, I was gone. I was blubbering."
He added: "It's kind of unbelievable. I've dreamed, as has Matty, since I started diving 20 years ago, for this moment of becoming an Olympic champion. And it to take it to my fourth Olympic Games, when I think a lot of people probably would have not considered it to be my peak Olympic Games.
"I thought I was going to win an Olympic gold medal in Rio, and that turned out the complete opposite by a long shot. And it was my husband who said to me that my story wasn't finished, and my son or child – we didn't know at the time – needed to be there to watch me win an Olympic gold medal.
"And the fact that I can say that my son watched me become Olympic champion, albeit on TV and they couldn't be here, is just, it's such a great feeling."
It has been a tough road for Daley, who lost his father and mentor Rob to brain cancer in 2011, all while living life in the public eye ever since his remarkable rise in Beijing, and he revealed how close he came to not making it to Tokyo.
"Many times I've doubted that this moment would ever come. In 2018, I had broken shins, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to do my running platform take-offs again," he said.
"Starting off last year, I broke my hand, and then wasn't sure if I was going to get back in time for the Olympics last year and they got delayed with lockdown.
"And then I got all kinds of sick with everything that you could at that time. And that even up until June, I had a pretty bad knee injury. I haven't said this yet, but in June, I tore my meniscus and went under knee surgery and had to get it removed.
"And there was a chance that I wasn't actually going to be able to be here in the first place. So I'm just extremely happy and thankful to all of the physios, doctors, strength coaches, my coach for making it possible that I can even dive today."
Daley also feels the triumph could present a momentous moment for LGBTQ representation at the Olympics.
"It's just amazing that there's more LGBT representation at the Olympic Games, each Games that goes along," he said.
"When I was a little boy, I felt like an outsider, and felt different, and I felt like I was never going to be anything, because who I was, wasn't what society wanted me to be.
"I hope [that this] can give young kids hope and not feel so frightened and scared and alone, and to be able to see that no matter who you are, where you come from, you can become an Olympic champion, because I did."
Daley is an 'icon of the Olympics', says diving partner Williams
Noah Williams has hailed Tom Daley as "an icon of the Olympics" after his Paris 2024 diving partner announced his retirement from the sport on Monday.
Together, Daley and Williams won silver in the men's synchronised 10m platform at the Games in the French capital earlier this month.
It marked Daley's fifth Olympic medal, following his gold in the same event alongside Matty Lee at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Yet Williams believes Daley's impact has been seismic in diving and beyond.
"He is literally an icon of the Olympics for Team GB. He is the one person who has transcended diving in my opinion," he told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"He's a massive activist for the gay community; he helps so many communities massively and has inspired so many people to take up not just diving, but sport in general.
"I will miss him in training, but I'm sure everyone will miss him competing and being around."
Daley first made the headlines competing at Beijing 2008 when he was just 14 years old. He came out in 2013 and has since been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
He returned to competitive diving for Paris 2024 after a two-year break, so his two sons could watch him compete.
For Williams, however, retirement may come much sooner. The 24-year-old won individual bronze in the men's 10m platform in addition to his silver with Daley in Paris.
Despite such success in this cycle, his participation at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 is not guaranteed.
“I'm not sure what I'm going to do, is the truth. I don't want to dive just because I'm good at it, because it does take a lot of mental energy, a big toll on you,” he said.
"I saw a lot of people saying, 'Tom's retiring? But he's only 30', but I don't think they realise that 30 is actually old in the world of diving.
"That's why, when he took two years out after Tokyo, no one was particularly shocked.
"Even though I'm 24, I'm not far off being too old to dive - which seems crazy."
Tom Daley retires from diving after claiming Paris silver
Tom Daley has retired from diving after winning his fifth Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
Competing alongside Noah Williams, Daley claimed silver in the men's synchronised 10m platform event in the French capital, having previously won one gold and three bronze medals across his first four trips to the Games.
Daley effectively retired from the sport after winning gold in the synchronised 10m platform event at the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago, but he opted to return for a fifth Olympics this year, citing a desire to compete in front of his two children.
As Team GB returned to London on Monday, Daley confirmed his decision to the BBC, saying: "I'm really happy with how everything's gone.
"It's always hard when you say goodbye to your sport. Lots of things to process, but I think it's the right time.
"This year felt like such a bonus and I got to compete in front of my family, my kids. I got to be Team GB's flagbearer. So yeah, bucket list ticked off on every occasion.
"I want to be with my family. I'm really excited to be able to spend some time with them and just be able to feel a bit normal for a couple of days."
Daley is the most decorated diver in Team GB's Olympic history. He won bronze in the 10m event at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, as well as the synchronised 10m at Rio 2016, before taking gold in the latter event in Japan three years ago.
Team GB bronze medallist Spendolini-Sirieix hails "pioneer for diving" Daley
Tom Daley is a "pioneer for diving" who "brings the fun", so says his Team GB team-mate Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix.
Spendolini-Sirieix claimed bronze at the Paris Olympics in the women's synchronised 10m platform, alongside Lois Toulson.
It is the 19-year-old's first medal. She was Team GB's youngest diver at the Tokyo Games at just 16.
Daley also made an early Olympic debut, competing in Beijing in 2008 at 14 years old. Now 30, he added to an already stellar medal collection in Paris, winning silver in the men's synchronised 10m platform with Noah Williams.
And Spendolini-Sirieix is grateful for the influence Daley has had on both her and the sport.
"I really feel like Tom has been the pioneer for diving. He’s really put diving on the map," she said while speaking to Stats Perform at Adidas house.
Daley became the first British diver to win four Olympic medals when he took gold in the 10m synchro at Tokyo 2020 with partner Matty Lee, to add to his three bronze from previous Games.
“Tom has done so much for our sport and as a team-mate, he's been really, really supportive," added Spendolini-Sirieix.
"He makes us laugh with his terrible dad jokes. But he just brings the fun, he brings the excitement and he brings the energy."
Asked whether she thought Daley would compete in Los Angeles in 2028, Spendolini-Sirieix was unsure, but partner Toulson chipped in: "It wouldn't surprise me, knowing Tom."
Just as his personality away from the pool is infectious, Daley's success in it has also rubbed off on the rest of his team.
In Paris, Team GB have the second-best medal haul in diving, only second to China.
They made history by winning medals in all synchro events, with one silver and three bronze.
"Now I really do feel like we've all put diving on the map, and that's the power of sport, it's the power of the Olympics,” said Spendolini-Sirieix, who also finished sixth in the women's 10m platform.
"We can really broadcast the hard work that we've been putting on. And I really do hope that more people tune into diving and try diving, because it's really a beautiful and unique sport."
Spendolini-Sirieix argues that such a feat would not be possible without the support of those behind the scenes.
"We are the ones that are diving, but we really feel like everyone dives with us in our hearts and with us behind our backs. It takes a village to create an athlete," she said.
"Having our family here as well to celebrate with us is the best part. It’s honestly the most amazing feeling."
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