Olympic Champion Matty Lee Retires From Diving After Stellar Career
Olympic champion Matty Lee has retired from diving after a career that has seen him step on to every major international podium.
The highlight came at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when he and Tom Daley dived to gold in the men’s synchro as the Great Britain pair finished a dramatic 1.2 points clear of China’s Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen.
Lee and Daley won European and World Aquatics Diving World Cup gold together in the same event in the months leading up to Tokyo – as well as World Championship bronze in 2019 – before Matty teamed up with Noah Williams in the following two years to achieve more international success.
Together, Lee and Williams won world silver at Budapest 2022 and were crowned Commonwealth champions weeks later in Birmingham where Lee also claimed bronze in the 10m platform.
Tom Daley,Jane Figueiredo and Matty Lee. Photo Courtesy: British Swimming
Lee – who trained at the Aquatics GB Performance Centre London – made his World Championship debut aged 17 at Kazan 2015, weeks after winning the 10m platform title at the European Games.
He won mixed 10m synchro silver alongside Lois Toulson at the 2017 worlds with the pair joining forces for another second place at the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow.
Having undergone surgery on his spine in early 2024, the 26-year-old has now decided to move on to the next stage of his career.
He confirmed his retirement on social media, saying: “After 20 years in the sport, it’s time for me to step away from diving. This decision hasn’t been easy, but after losing my dad in 2022, I struggled to find the same passion I once had, he was my why. Then came injuries, surgeries, and the realization that I don’t want to be a broken man moving forward.
“Diving has given me the world, literally. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve travelled, the memories I’ve made. That’s what I’ll cherish the most. To my incredible family. Dad, my biggest fan, I hope I made you proud. Tom, my brother, my inspiration. Mum, for always being there, through the highs and lows, the early mornings, the long drives, the endless support. To my team. Jane, who shaped me into a champion. Gareth, who kept me moving when it mattered most. Brit, who made me believe in my own strength. And of course, to my synchro partner Tom Daley, what a journey, what a moment we shared. Olympic Champions forever.
“To every coach and staff member who played a role in my career, thank you. From the first coach who sparked my love for diving to the last who guided me through my final chapter, everything I’ve achieved is because of you. Your support, knowledge, and dedication never went unnoticed. To my closest friends. You never pulled me away from my sport, you lifted me up through it. Your support, laughter, and belief in me meant more than you’ll ever know.
“To my fans and followers, thank you for your unwavering support, through every dive, every challenge, every triumph. You made this journey even more special. And finally to the doubters, thank you too. You kept me hungry. You made me push harder. And in the end, I proved to myself that I could achieve more than I ever imagined.
“What’s next? Honestly, I don’t know. And that’s both terrifying and exciting. But I do know this, there’s more to life than diving, and I’m ready for it.”
