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."