Tom Daley to fulfil childhood dream as Team GB flagbearer at Olympic opening ceremony

Tom Daley will make even more history at Paris 2024 after becoming the first diver to be selected by Team GB as an official flag bearer for the Olympics Opening Ceremony.

The four-time Olympic medallist is already set to become the first British diver to compete at five Games this summer but now he gets to fulfil another childhood dream at Friday evening’s procession down the River Seine.

“To be asked to be flag bearer is one of the greatest honours in my Olympic diving career.” he said.

“To be able to do it in my fifth Olympic Games and have my family here is a very special thing.

“It has always been a dream of mine, since I was a little kid. I remember in 2008 walking out behind the flag bearer right in the front line, because we were the smallest group of people, and to now be one of the two people to lead out the team is such a huge honour.

“If my dad was around now, he would be so incredibly proud, because he always said that you would know you have cemented your Olympic legacy if you are asked to be a flag bearer at an Olympic Games.”

Sharing the moment

Daley will join rower Helen Glover in holding the Union flag at the front of the Team GB contingent, 16-years on from his debut Games as a 14-year-old in Beijing.

He will follow in the footsteps of rower Moe Sbihi and sailor Hannah Mills who carried the flag in Tokyo as well as swimmers Mark Foster and Anita Lonsbrough and water polo players Arthur Hunt and Charles Smith who have previously been given the honour.

And as he continues his final preparations, Daley says he’s proud of his journey back to competition and now to Paris.

He added: “The first person I called was my husband Lance, because I wanted to tell him.

“It has been really tough. We moved to America and then I decided I wanted to go back to training, and it has been hard with the travel.

“It has been a real journey. I feel really proud to have committed to going on another Olympic journey, against all odds. I really went for it and he was so happy for me.

“My youngest son [Phoenix] won’t remember but Robbie, who has just turned six, is going to. He is very excited, he has been learning a lot about the Olympics at school and it is going to be really special to look back at photos and say they were there.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the moment with Helen too, she is such an inspiration.”

Speaking on this year’s flagbearers, Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England added: “Tom and Helen exemplify and embody the values of Team GB and our great country.

“They are dedicated, hard-working, talented athletes, who have achieved greatness in their sports and have captured the affection of the nation in doing so. They are both truly proud to wear the Union flag and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing that first hand at every Olympic Games they have attended.

“It is an absolute privilege to name them as flag bearers for Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Daley will be on the hunt for his fifth medal when he takes to the boards alongside Noah Williams on Monday 29 July.

The pair team up in the Men’s 10m Synchronised Diving final at 10am that day where Daley looks to defend the Olympic title he won alongside Matty Lee in Japan.