Tom Daley left adorable surprise message for 3-year-old son Robbie ahead of gold medal win

Words: Alastair James; pictures: Instagram @tomdaley

Tom Daley is the man of the hour following his triumphant gold medal victory with Matty Lee in the men’s 10m synchro platform in Tokyo. And now he’s melting our hearts with a sweet message he left for his husband, Dustin Lance Black, and son Robbie.

The 27-year-old diver, who won the gold at his fourth Olympics, left the video message for his family before competing in the games.

Uploading footage of him and his son watching it ahead of Daley’s winning dives, Lance Black said it was a “sweet” surprise for the pair.

“I love you”

The video, uploaded to Twitter, sees Lance Black and Robbie finding a small box with a British Swimming pen drive inside. Proving that kids these days are complete technophiles, Robbie is able to start the pen drive and bring up a video of Daley (or ‘Papa’ as he’s referred to in the family)

Tom starts the message by saying hello to his family and mum, who he says are watching the competition together. “I just wanted to say a massive thank you for everything that you have done for me up until this point.

“As you know, the support from you guys has been what has been able to get me through some of my crazy days, some of my easy days, the highs and lows, and everything in-between.

And I think this journey from Rio, where I was at my lowest point in my sporting career to now coming into this Olympics in a completely different mind space. I’m excited!

“And the fact that you guys make me feel loved regardless of how I’m going to do makes things a lot easier, it takes a lot of pressure off of me. So, thank you for that. And I miss you guys a lot. I can’t wait to see you.

“I love you and Robbie, make sure you wear your nice t-shirt when you’re supporting Papa. Make sure you cheer really loud so I can hear you. I love you.”

Ending the message Tom blows a kiss, which Robbie reciprocates.

It’s the big #OlympicGames competition day/night for our @TomDaley1994 & @mattydiver and our sweet Tom left us this surprise. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/T1b7tHGBHk

— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) July 25, 2021

Speaking to Attitude while appearing on the cover alongside his diving partner, Matty Lee, the now gold medal winner talked about balancing fatherhood with his sport.

“I’m very regimented, which is fine when you’re an athlete, it’s even great when you’re a parent, because I’m in bed just after Robbie goes to bed, and then I’m up before he is, so it works well.

“But in terms of being able to be a normal human being and being an athlete, it’s quite difficult to balance that.”

On training at home due to the pandemic, he says it’s had some bonuses as far as parenting to Robbie goes.

“He’s changed so much in the last year. It has been so nice to actually be able to be home to see him grow, because in a normal Olympic year I wouldn’t have been home otherwise.”

Tom married the Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black in 2017, a year after the Rio 2016 Olympics and the pair welcomed their son Robbie a year later.

The Attitude Body Issue is out now.

Subscribe in print and get your first three issues for just £1 each, or digitally for just over £1.50 per issue.