When we say the name 'Tom Daley', there's a handful of things that come to mind: gold medals, speedos, and a craft project.
From plane to poolside, there's an abundance of places we've spotted Tom Daley crocheting over the years. Now, he's teamed up with Diet Coke for their This Is My Taste campaign, celebrating every person and their own unique tastes.
Which of course, for Tom, involves crocheting a teeny tiny bag to carry your fizzy beverage around in. We're obsessed.
We caught up with Tom at a crocheting masterclass to find out exactly why he won't be putting down his needles anytime soon.
What made you get into crocheting?
I learned to unwind and slow down a bit, because my coach always said I was on the go and doing too much. So I was trying to find something to rest and relax on the weekends. It was actually my husband [American screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black] who suggested that I tried knitting or crocheting, because it’s something that they do a lot on film sets. So I logged onto YouTube university and taught myself to knit. I initially started knitting, and then all of a sudden I became obsessed and learned to crochet. And now we’ve got a lovely little Diet Coke holder!
It's a very different sort of skill to diving…
It is, it's very different. It’s also the first thing that actually allows me to slow down. It’s the one time of the day where my mind is quiet and I’m able to be in the moment. I hope that if we can get everyone to make at least one granny square, then we’ve won.
When you started knitting and crocheting, did you ever think it would become such a huge thing for you?
If somebody had said to me five years ago, ‘Did you know that you’re probably going to be known more for knitting and crocheting than you are diving,’ I wouldn’t believe them. I never thought it was going to be this thing. Yet here we are, and I’m talking about crocheting rather than diving - which is kind of crazy.
You've gone viral several times for whipping our your craft project at any given moment. Have you always been so confident to do it in person?
I think knitting and crocheting in public is always kind of seen as what on earth are they doing, or why are they doing that? I got to a point where I was like, you know what, everyone can sit and spend time scrolling on their phones when they’re on the tube to training – so why can’t I be sat there knitting or crocheting? It was my way of getting away from everything. I genuinely do think it’s like my superpower of being able to switch off from everything.
The campaign is all about celebrating our own personal tastes! What’s another niche passion you have?
I learned how to sew – but that’s not that niche. I’m obsessed with Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
Diving is quite a niche thing to get into! What would you say to someone who is feeling maybe a bit shy or scared about getting into a hobby people might judge them for?
Firstly, who cares what anyone thinks? As I got older, I realised there’s very few professions where you wear more clothes to bed than you do to work – and diving is very niche in that. So you kind of learn very quickly to not care what anyone else thinks. You just do your thing. But at the same time, I think if you are genuinely passionate about something and enjoy it, who cares if nobody else gets your vision? It’s not up to them to make you happy. You should do the thing that you enjoy.
What would your ultimate Diet Coke break involve?
An ice cold diet coke – I know some people like a glass bottle, but I actually do love a little canned coke - and then I spend time knitting or crocheting. I sit there, maybe put a show on in the background, and just have a little chill. It doesn’t happen very often until the kids are in bed – but when they’re down for the night, that’s my little diet coke break. I love it.
If you could have a Diet Coke break with anybody in the world, who would it be?
A fellow knitter, Michelle Obama. I think it would be quite cool.
Have you ever met her?
No, I haven’t...
Who is the most famous person you’ve met?
Well... The Queen when she was alive.
Now that you've said goodbye to diving, what's up for you next?
Oh gosh, all different kinds of things. I’ve been doing a lot of different designs for my knitting brand Made With Love, with different yarns and patterns, and different clothes and things. That’s kind of my next thing. Now that I’m retired and diving is in the past, I just spend all my time designing and making patterns. I just bloody love it.
Keep an eye on @DietCokeGBI #ThisIsMyTaste to be in with a chance of having a Diet Coke crochet bag. This is My Taste, a campaign from Diet Coke, encourages people to feel boldly empowered to express their personal tastes