The athlete who got rid of the harassment coming out of the closet
GAYLES.TV.- Thomas Daley or Tom as he prefers to be called, he just won the bronze in jump in 10 men's synchronized meter revalidating the medal achieved in London in the 2012 with only 14 years, the youngest medalist springboard jumper. It had already been gold in the European championships with 13 years and shortly after, to the 15, happened to be the youngest British world champion. A legend had been born.
But beyond the titles and medals, Tom has worked himself as a true national star, the mirror in which you see a generation of young people in the UK. With just 22 years of life accumulate much experience, much effort, much pain and sacrifice. In 2011 his father, who had helped him out of a serious personal crisis, dies because of a brain tumor. But there was no room for tears because the London Olympics were just around the corner and Tom rose with gold against all odds.
But the road to get there had not been easy. Harassment has been a constant in his life in various areas. At school where in the words of Daley "They threw me things, they crushed me to the ground for no apparent reason. And to others it seemed funny. It was as if the whole world was against me and I began to doubt who I was and what I believed in. " And the Beijing Games came where, after qualifying eighth in synchronized, his partner Blake Aldridge, 12 years older, blamed him for his failure in qualifying. Tom was on the verge of breaking down, claiming that he would rather be dead than continue training, and threatened to jump out the window if left alone.
But he overcame the crisis with the help of the father who left the job and became his shadow. Then came a 6 weeks trip in the company of her best friend who toured Morocco, Spain, Switzerland, New Zealand, Thailand and Japan. Tom recorded everything on video and created a TV series. That would be the turning point. The definitive click was the exit of the closet in its own YouTube channel: "This spring my life changed completely when I met someone who makes me happy and makes me feel safe. And that person is a man ". And that man is nothing less than the Californian screenwriter Dustin Lance Black of 42 years, winner of an Oscar by the script of "My name is Harvy Milk", with whom he plans to marry after the Rio Games.
With his coming out of the closet Tom closed a crucial year in his life. It was the year that he got the British audiences in his pocket as an advisor in the famous springboard jump program "Splash!" and his followers on Instagram became legion, everything he touched turned to gold.
But nothing has been given away to this young man who submits to 11 gym sessions a week, 11 jumps and a ballet. Have breakfast every day 4 egg whites, oats and spinach, which eats chicken and vegetables and dinner vegetables and chicken or salmon. A boy who, despite his elaborate glamorous image, goes to bed every night at 10.
Whatever his own character, born of his strong character, his closeness and sensitivity, have made him an example for others. The message is clear: sport as a way of personal improvement, as a way out of the tunnel of harassment, pain and humiliation.
Bravo for Tom Daley!
Source: El País
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