This Sunday marks the release of ‘Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds,’ a documentary that chronicles the ups and downs of British diver Tom Daley‘s extraordinary career and his impact beyond the pool. The 90-minute film takes its name from the crucial 1.6 seconds from the time the athlete launches from the 10-meter platform until he enters the water.
“My whole life has been about diving,” said Daley, an Olympic champion and five-time Olympic medalist. “My whole life has been about perfecting those 1.6 seconds.”
Tom Daley’s journey
Daley’s quest to master those brief seconds led him to make his debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at just 14 years old. Four years later, at the London 2012 Games, he won a bronze medal in his native country, cementing his place as one of the great up-and-comers in British sport.
However, his third Olympic appearance at Rio 2016 was marked by high expectations and a painful defeat, considered one of the worst individual performances of his career. Despite this, Daley proved his resilience by returning with a triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where he won the gold medal, and later earned a silver medal at Paris 2024, where he also served as Great Britain’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
An intimate portrait of Tom Daley’s life
‘Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds’ offers an up-close look at the diver’s life, exploring the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny, the physical and mental pressures of being his country’s great medal hope, the loss of his father Robert to cancer, his coming out to the media and his decision to retire from competition at the age of 30.
The documentary includes interviews with key people in her life, including her mother Debbie, her husband Dustin Lance Black and her first coach Andy Banks. It also features previously unreleased clips from the family archives and exclusive footage shot in various locations, including London, Los Angeles and Paris.
Reflections on her career and the future
“For most of my life, my mind has been focused on competing,” Daley commented prior to the documentary’s premiere. “I’ve lived in four-year Olympic cycles, striving to constantly improve my performance as an athlete.”
Daley also reflected on his evolution since his debut in Beijing 2008: “That 14-year-old me at his first Olympics has come a long way, and I’m so grateful for every moment, good and bad. I have received incredible support over the years, I have the most beautiful family and, as I reflect on my silver medal in Paris 2024, my eyes are on what the future might hold.”
