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Coming Up for Air: What I Learned from Sport, Fame and Fatherhood
A deeply personal and inspiring memoir from one of the most celebrated and influential names in British sport.
Tom Daley captured the hearts of the nation with his unforgettable medal-winning performance in the London 2012 Olympics. At this year's Games in Tokyo, he triumphed to win gold and became the most decorated British diver of all time.
In this deeply personal book, Tom explores the experiences that have shaped him and the qualities to which he owes his contentment and success; from the resilience he developed competing at world-class level, to the courage he discovered while reclaiming the narrative around his sexuality, and the perspective that family life has brought him.
Candid and perceptive, Coming Up for Air offers a unique insight into the life and mindset of one our greatest and most-loved athletes.
Tom Daley captured the hearts of the nation with his unforgettable medal-winning performance in the London 2012 Olympics. At this year's Games in Tokyo, he triumphed to win gold and became the most decorated British diver of all time.
In this deeply personal book, Tom explores the experiences that have shaped him and the qualities to which he owes his contentment and success; from the resilience he developed competing at world-class level, to the courage he discovered while reclaiming the narrative around his sexuality, and the perspective that family life has brought him.
Candid and perceptive, Coming Up for Air offers a unique insight into the life and mindset of one our greatest and most-loved athletes.
290 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2021
137 people are currently reading
1551 people want to read
About the author
Tom Daley
17 books102 followersThomas Robert Daley is a British diver and television personality. Specialising in multiple events, he is an Olympic gold medallist in the men's synchronized 10-metre platform event and the first British diver to win four Olympic medals. He is a triple world champion, a 5-time European champion and 4-time Commonwealth champion.
He is married to screenwriter and activist Dustin Lance Black.
He is married to screenwriter and activist Dustin Lance Black.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
November 6, 2021
An inspiring, transparent and honest story by a person who has turned every hurdle into a learning experience. I have the utmost admiration for Tom and his perserverance to provide the safest and most loving environment for himself and his family. A true once-in-a-lifetime athlete who I will always look up to!
March 1, 2022
interesting bio of the diver Tom Daley about his private life and his diving career
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August 1, 2022NB: I don't rate biographies.
A short read from Tom Daley, probably one of the most well known British Olympic athletes of all time. I've followed Tom for a long time, after seeing a documentary following him and several other hopefuls in the run up to the 2008 games. As such I did already know quite a lot about this professional career, and I liked reading about Tom's experiences from his own perspective and what his mindset was like through various stages of his career.
I did tear up when Tom discussed his father and what his family went through leading up to his death from a brain tumour. I vividly remember Tom going to dive not long after his death, and the press repeatedly hounding this poor guy about how he was feeling and trying not to break down in front of the reporters. So much of his private moments have been stolen from him due to growing up so very firmly in the public eye, yet Tom never feels bitter about it. If anything he repeatedly states how luck he knows he is to be where he is. Overall he just comes across as a really nice, down to earth family man who just wants to make his family and friends proud. Plus he's a pretty good knitter too.
A short read from Tom Daley, probably one of the most well known British Olympic athletes of all time. I've followed Tom for a long time, after seeing a documentary following him and several other hopefuls in the run up to the 2008 games. As such I did already know quite a lot about this professional career, and I liked reading about Tom's experiences from his own perspective and what his mindset was like through various stages of his career.
I did tear up when Tom discussed his father and what his family went through leading up to his death from a brain tumour. I vividly remember Tom going to dive not long after his death, and the press repeatedly hounding this poor guy about how he was feeling and trying not to break down in front of the reporters. So much of his private moments have been stolen from him due to growing up so very firmly in the public eye, yet Tom never feels bitter about it. If anything he repeatedly states how luck he knows he is to be where he is. Overall he just comes across as a really nice, down to earth family man who just wants to make his family and friends proud. Plus he's a pretty good knitter too.
April 10, 2024
“I think that the more people talk about who they are, the more young people will feel empowered to do the same.”
January 20, 2024
This past October (2023) I was lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time to meet Tom Daley, and both that interaction and this book combined solidified what my younger self always knew: he is such a gem! So precious, and just so lovely. Literally when I met him, he was feeding his child and (A. I felt so guilty cause like hello he’s a person too, just out for brunch and trying to feed his baby) was so kind! Literally apologized that he couldn’t shake my hand cause he was a little busy and just was so sweet. His career has been so incredible to watch and it seemed like at the end of this one that he may still compete in the next Olympics 👀 hope so and can’t wait to watch!
November 16, 2021
Ive absolutely flown through this book. I have not been able to put it down. Tom has written in such an honest and open way, it was so easy and refreshing to read. He's always inspired me and even more so after reading this.
December 24, 2021
It is always interesting when reading an autobiography to hear the details of someone's life that are so different from your own, and this is no different. What struck me about Tom Daley is the amount of extreme pressure he has lived all aspects of his life under, including diving results, losing his father, weight management, and life as a gay man and parent in the tabloids. (All at such a young age)
In some ways, I liked how the chapters are about different themes. However, I did miss it being in chronological order to understand better which things were happening simultaneously. There are lovely details, but I feel there could have been more, almost like this is just scratching the surface. At the end of each chapter, Daley gives an overview of his current feeling about that subject. You can't help but feel this is a bit of a motivational speech that he is trying to tell himself and the reader, rather than believing it wholeheartedly.
An easy, enjoyable, quick read, although bordering a bit too much on a self-help book.
In some ways, I liked how the chapters are about different themes. However, I did miss it being in chronological order to understand better which things were happening simultaneously. There are lovely details, but I feel there could have been more, almost like this is just scratching the surface. At the end of each chapter, Daley gives an overview of his current feeling about that subject. You can't help but feel this is a bit of a motivational speech that he is trying to tell himself and the reader, rather than believing it wholeheartedly.
An easy, enjoyable, quick read, although bordering a bit too much on a self-help book.
May 17, 2022
as a queer athlete i honestly cannot put into words how affirming this book was.
November 3, 2022
3.5 - I love reading books from queer professional athletes. Tom Daley’s memoir gives some good insight into what he was going through when he came out privately and publicly and how he’s dealt with situations where he’s competing in countries where it’s extremely dangerous (or even illegal) to be queer. On the actual sports side of things I thought it was fascinating to read about how he had a mental block with a specific dive after the London Olympics and how he had to come up with a completely new dive in order to replace it.
This book is told in chapters based around different themes instead of being told chronologically. I really wish the book just went in order rather than jumping around, because it was hard to keep track of when different events were happening in relation to one another.
While I wouldn’t say this is the greatest memoir I’ve ever read, I definitely think it’s an interesting read if you want to get an inside look at what high level queer athletes have to deal with being in the public eye.
This book is told in chapters based around different themes instead of being told chronologically. I really wish the book just went in order rather than jumping around, because it was hard to keep track of when different events were happening in relation to one another.
While I wouldn’t say this is the greatest memoir I’ve ever read, I definitely think it’s an interesting read if you want to get an inside look at what high level queer athletes have to deal with being in the public eye.
July 2, 2024
Review to come, my last book read for the month of June was a fitting one, coming from Olympian Tom Daley. This was illuminating in showcasing his life, mental space in the sport of diving. Still deciding on final rating, but will either be 4-4.5 stars.
January 5, 2022
A fascinating insight into the career of an amazing Olympian. The pressures he puts himself through to achieve his goals. A very good read.
January 21, 2022
Half a star is for the front cover image and half a star is for the back. The second star is for the fact that it was written and it was interesting to get insight into some of the conditions that exist when you're an athlete. Thank goodness he is an incredible diver because being a storyteller is not meant to be. Whoever wrote this needs to learn about sentence structure and how not to overuse semicolons; I love semicolons but they don't need to be in every second sentence. This was a very sanitised, disjointed story. I was expecting a memoir going through more of the good, bad, and ugly but it was very selective and does not at all feel like a proper memoir or look back at life.
June 14, 2023
Oh, the irony and the trepidation! This book by the British boy of posh proportions and idyllic idiosyncrasies has yielded to my better self, my higher self in postulating a small, humble review for his large base of fans in Britannia and elsewhere. I would love to be friends with his friends--athletes in all parts of Olympia and America...
Anyway, I wrote a bit about how he mentioned he got an adrenalin rush with each competition. He initially brought up some technical terms like the (1) forward dive, the (2) backward dive, the (3) reverse dive, the (4) inward dive, the (5) handstand dive, and the (6) twisting dive. In the Preliminary round he placed 15 or so. Sometimes, he felt that the audience looked all blurry, as he had a boatload and a truckful of anticipation and exhilaration.
He called this "heightened senses" in a way. He would have temporary elation when winning a medal. Tom Daley has suffered through injuries, though. Aww. He must be so sad. I would love to make sure he feels better... One injury early in the book was a concussion or more than one, as well as a broken hand and other illnesses. Tom always had to go from academics to sports often and it was demanding--fastidious. He mentioned other technical terms like pirouettes and somersaults.
He said his focus of vision and antennae or radar of senses created this belief in a state of "flow," whereby he would forget about others in the audience and yet know that it was for brief moments in order to salvage the sainthood of the United Kingdom and for the Holy Roman Emperors of the Medieval Ages.
Sometimes, he felt his attempts and routines were risky, as he was at the mercy of gravity. Andy Banks was his coach, like the name in the Toy Story series, as well as the name of my church friend, Andy Jones--with sisters Cynthia and Sara from Maryland (MD).
It was sort of worrisome to stay in top shape through his other coaches who were Chinese and Russian: e.g. Alexei Evangulov and Peng.
The British Swimming Association was the main one that he was affiliated with. Trust and rapport were essential to maintain and exhibit. In order to reach the bullseye of success, he tried to please others throughout his life. He sometimes had poor sleep apnea and bad dreams. One time he had a vacation in Plymouth for Christmas.
Tom Daley sometimes felt worthless, pointless, and meaningless. Kate was his sports psychologist. Daley notes how he likes the "weightlessness and exhilaration" of diving. Tom was many times discouraged, but he kept pushing forward. Lost Movement Syndrome was one that he sometimes had, as well as PTSD.
He even was in Afghanistan for a time, and he mentioned the term, "EMDR," which is a meditative breathing technique. To master diving, it would require hours of practice. He went to the World Cup in Shanghai in 2014. "G-force" is another technical word for inertia and centripetal force. He had a way of doing the twister, and every move or spin had varying levels of difficulty.
Another set of moves that he mentioned were these: approach, take-off, elevation, execution, and entry. He went to the FINA World Series in 2015. Yang Jian was one Chinese diver rival, as was Qiu Bo.
He had stressful social situations, but he found his purpose through Lance who happened to be 20 years older than him. Wow, that must be so wonderful. He is a screenwriter and is LGBTQ, to. They share a baby boy named Robbie. Tom Daley's father died of brain cancer in 2011 at 40 years old, which is like my aunt Kazyo who died of breast cancer in 2011 in Japan.
Lance's brother Marcus also died of cancer in 2012. Lance is described as a workaholic by Tom, and they both like lychee martinis. They try their best to be sensitive, protective, and supportive to one another and their larger confluence and concentric circles of support systems.
Tom wanted children for a long time. Lance one time bought a barbecue grill for him. There was a lot of homophobia and transphobia, though. Aww. So sad. Lmao. Gareth Thomas was a LGBTQ Welsh rugby player who befriended them.
In 2008, he competed in the Beijing Olympics, but he still could recall times in life when he was bullied and had anxiety. The media cared about his relationships. There was worry about brands not supporting him at some points.
He did a "Coming Out" video on YouTube, like my brother Owin did, as well as those like Max Emerson, Andrew Neighbors, worldofxtra, Samantha Lux, Gigi Gorgeous, Blair White, Blair Imani, Miley Cyrus, Jojo Siwa, Demi Lovato, Josh Cavallo, Auli'i Cravalho, Carl Nassib, Raven Symone, Kaylee Bryant, David Archuleta, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, and Arielle Scarcella, among others.
His mother hugged him, and Aunt Marie was with him. Her husband is named Jason. Grandma Rose and Grandpa Dink were there, too. He had positive support to get through his obliterative ordeals and his cancerous conundrums.
There were interview requests for him, but once he skipped a competition in Russia. The Middle East is restrictive for LGBTQ+ people, despite the fact that many of them are desirable and favorable by Whites and Blacks alike.
Tom Daley had purpose, and he swam for 6 hours a day, despite not being super buff or something. He did 2 and a half hours of training. Tom didn't want to dive on the weekends. Tom felt that the more successful he became, the more others expected from him.
Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Morocco were all nations mentioned for his events.
He even did bungee jumping, skydiving, jet flying with a fighter jet, and paragliding. He could unwind and evaluate his life goals and such. He debated about whether to stay in London or go to America. Tom Daley likes horror movies and scary roller coasters. He needed to skydive with insurance.
Daley wanted to be more ambitious, too. Tom Daley worked well with Jane and their relationship progressed into a honeymoon phase for profession.
Daley had pain in his hips, as well as a concussion and pneumonia, requiring him to be medicated with antibiotics. Tottenham Court Road had an Institute of Sport Exercise and Health. He was diagnosed with Over-training syndrome. In order to resolve this, he was pulled out of the Olympic Games. He was married a year later to Lance, and they had a baby on the way.
Tom Daley tried different methods of losing weight, as he sometimes felt self-conscious and anxious. Aww. So adorable. He sometimes liked snacks and junk food. He was once 76 kilos in 2011, and then he was 67 kilos in 2012.
He had different weights throughout his lifetime, and he felt sluggish, too, at times. There was a calorie deficit perhaps occasionally. Later, he described more about the gestational surrogacy agency and clinic process.
All in all, I was grateful to buy the e-book for his book sometime like 1-2 months ago. I think his life is really a testament to how we can get through obstacles and learn how to describe occasions, processes, and events in our lives with more grace and sophistication if we learn to take things slow, despite our deadline-motivated and time-bound world.
We all sometimes lash out at one another, whether digitally or emotionally. In my line of work, I have had to work with disadvantaged, minority groups, and I can sense how saddened they must have been when I said hurtful words to them or when they said hurtful words to me.
Nonetheless, if I keep my eye on the prize, then I know I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, working with more students/clients, hopefully having a family one day too, and continuing with my hobbies, groups, and projects.
Anyway, I wrote a bit about how he mentioned he got an adrenalin rush with each competition. He initially brought up some technical terms like the (1) forward dive, the (2) backward dive, the (3) reverse dive, the (4) inward dive, the (5) handstand dive, and the (6) twisting dive. In the Preliminary round he placed 15 or so. Sometimes, he felt that the audience looked all blurry, as he had a boatload and a truckful of anticipation and exhilaration.
He called this "heightened senses" in a way. He would have temporary elation when winning a medal. Tom Daley has suffered through injuries, though. Aww. He must be so sad. I would love to make sure he feels better... One injury early in the book was a concussion or more than one, as well as a broken hand and other illnesses. Tom always had to go from academics to sports often and it was demanding--fastidious. He mentioned other technical terms like pirouettes and somersaults.
He said his focus of vision and antennae or radar of senses created this belief in a state of "flow," whereby he would forget about others in the audience and yet know that it was for brief moments in order to salvage the sainthood of the United Kingdom and for the Holy Roman Emperors of the Medieval Ages.
Sometimes, he felt his attempts and routines were risky, as he was at the mercy of gravity. Andy Banks was his coach, like the name in the Toy Story series, as well as the name of my church friend, Andy Jones--with sisters Cynthia and Sara from Maryland (MD).
It was sort of worrisome to stay in top shape through his other coaches who were Chinese and Russian: e.g. Alexei Evangulov and Peng.
The British Swimming Association was the main one that he was affiliated with. Trust and rapport were essential to maintain and exhibit. In order to reach the bullseye of success, he tried to please others throughout his life. He sometimes had poor sleep apnea and bad dreams. One time he had a vacation in Plymouth for Christmas.
Tom Daley sometimes felt worthless, pointless, and meaningless. Kate was his sports psychologist. Daley notes how he likes the "weightlessness and exhilaration" of diving. Tom was many times discouraged, but he kept pushing forward. Lost Movement Syndrome was one that he sometimes had, as well as PTSD.
He even was in Afghanistan for a time, and he mentioned the term, "EMDR," which is a meditative breathing technique. To master diving, it would require hours of practice. He went to the World Cup in Shanghai in 2014. "G-force" is another technical word for inertia and centripetal force. He had a way of doing the twister, and every move or spin had varying levels of difficulty.
Another set of moves that he mentioned were these: approach, take-off, elevation, execution, and entry. He went to the FINA World Series in 2015. Yang Jian was one Chinese diver rival, as was Qiu Bo.
He had stressful social situations, but he found his purpose through Lance who happened to be 20 years older than him. Wow, that must be so wonderful. He is a screenwriter and is LGBTQ, to. They share a baby boy named Robbie. Tom Daley's father died of brain cancer in 2011 at 40 years old, which is like my aunt Kazyo who died of breast cancer in 2011 in Japan.
Lance's brother Marcus also died of cancer in 2012. Lance is described as a workaholic by Tom, and they both like lychee martinis. They try their best to be sensitive, protective, and supportive to one another and their larger confluence and concentric circles of support systems.
Tom wanted children for a long time. Lance one time bought a barbecue grill for him. There was a lot of homophobia and transphobia, though. Aww. So sad. Lmao. Gareth Thomas was a LGBTQ Welsh rugby player who befriended them.
In 2008, he competed in the Beijing Olympics, but he still could recall times in life when he was bullied and had anxiety. The media cared about his relationships. There was worry about brands not supporting him at some points.
He did a "Coming Out" video on YouTube, like my brother Owin did, as well as those like Max Emerson, Andrew Neighbors, worldofxtra, Samantha Lux, Gigi Gorgeous, Blair White, Blair Imani, Miley Cyrus, Jojo Siwa, Demi Lovato, Josh Cavallo, Auli'i Cravalho, Carl Nassib, Raven Symone, Kaylee Bryant, David Archuleta, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, and Arielle Scarcella, among others.
His mother hugged him, and Aunt Marie was with him. Her husband is named Jason. Grandma Rose and Grandpa Dink were there, too. He had positive support to get through his obliterative ordeals and his cancerous conundrums.
There were interview requests for him, but once he skipped a competition in Russia. The Middle East is restrictive for LGBTQ+ people, despite the fact that many of them are desirable and favorable by Whites and Blacks alike.
Tom Daley had purpose, and he swam for 6 hours a day, despite not being super buff or something. He did 2 and a half hours of training. Tom didn't want to dive on the weekends. Tom felt that the more successful he became, the more others expected from him.
Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Morocco were all nations mentioned for his events.
He even did bungee jumping, skydiving, jet flying with a fighter jet, and paragliding. He could unwind and evaluate his life goals and such. He debated about whether to stay in London or go to America. Tom Daley likes horror movies and scary roller coasters. He needed to skydive with insurance.
Daley wanted to be more ambitious, too. Tom Daley worked well with Jane and their relationship progressed into a honeymoon phase for profession.
Daley had pain in his hips, as well as a concussion and pneumonia, requiring him to be medicated with antibiotics. Tottenham Court Road had an Institute of Sport Exercise and Health. He was diagnosed with Over-training syndrome. In order to resolve this, he was pulled out of the Olympic Games. He was married a year later to Lance, and they had a baby on the way.
Tom Daley tried different methods of losing weight, as he sometimes felt self-conscious and anxious. Aww. So adorable. He sometimes liked snacks and junk food. He was once 76 kilos in 2011, and then he was 67 kilos in 2012.
He had different weights throughout his lifetime, and he felt sluggish, too, at times. There was a calorie deficit perhaps occasionally. Later, he described more about the gestational surrogacy agency and clinic process.
All in all, I was grateful to buy the e-book for his book sometime like 1-2 months ago. I think his life is really a testament to how we can get through obstacles and learn how to describe occasions, processes, and events in our lives with more grace and sophistication if we learn to take things slow, despite our deadline-motivated and time-bound world.
We all sometimes lash out at one another, whether digitally or emotionally. In my line of work, I have had to work with disadvantaged, minority groups, and I can sense how saddened they must have been when I said hurtful words to them or when they said hurtful words to me.
Nonetheless, if I keep my eye on the prize, then I know I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, working with more students/clients, hopefully having a family one day too, and continuing with my hobbies, groups, and projects.
January 18, 2023
Popsugar reading challenge- A book about an athlete/sport.
I will just start by saying that Dustin's memoir Mama's boy I one of my FAVOURITE ever and I will use any opportunity to recommend it! So if you haven't read it...read it!
I always love reading/waiting the behind the scenes of an athlete because we forget when they are competing in that moment they are not their because they were born talented or they are natural. It's a year's worth of work, dedication, hard work, sweat, blood and tears.
Tom, narrated this audiobook which is so personal and intimate as it takes us through all the way from Tom's childhood to his first Olympic game all the way through to the Tokyo games. To me this was more than that, it taught me about courage, resilience, perseverance all which he names his chapters after. It showed me the power of those around you and, about never...ever...giving up. It taught me about love and family and knitting (which I really need to pick up). It showed me not how lucky Tom is but how much he deserves it because he worked for it, he injured himself for it. I loved hearing about how he fell in love with Lance, how his family supported him, his battle with mental health (insomnia et al) and how he is as a father. Also how he takes time to switch of (with knitting). An insight into life in the public eye but also how grief affected him after the passing of his father. With detailed commentary about diving his mental blocks and how he overcame them. It was an inspiring read. Huge respect for Tom and his commitment to anything he puts his heart too. 4.5.
Love wins. X
I will just start by saying that Dustin's memoir Mama's boy I one of my FAVOURITE ever and I will use any opportunity to recommend it! So if you haven't read it...read it!
I always love reading/waiting the behind the scenes of an athlete because we forget when they are competing in that moment they are not their because they were born talented or they are natural. It's a year's worth of work, dedication, hard work, sweat, blood and tears.
Tom, narrated this audiobook which is so personal and intimate as it takes us through all the way from Tom's childhood to his first Olympic game all the way through to the Tokyo games. To me this was more than that, it taught me about courage, resilience, perseverance all which he names his chapters after. It showed me the power of those around you and, about never...ever...giving up. It taught me about love and family and knitting (which I really need to pick up). It showed me not how lucky Tom is but how much he deserves it because he worked for it, he injured himself for it. I loved hearing about how he fell in love with Lance, how his family supported him, his battle with mental health (insomnia et al) and how he is as a father. Also how he takes time to switch of (with knitting). An insight into life in the public eye but also how grief affected him after the passing of his father. With detailed commentary about diving his mental blocks and how he overcame them. It was an inspiring read. Huge respect for Tom and his commitment to anything he puts his heart too. 4.5.
Love wins. X
April 30, 2022
Tom Daley is an olympian that you just want to cheer for. His latest memoir (I didn’t realize he’s written other books) is not organized chronologically but more by ideals. Chapter titles include; Perseverance, Kindness, Perspective, Motivation etc. Then he shares a story or chapter of his life that sort of fits the category. The beginning was a bit jumpy, leaping back several times to the 2012 Olympics where he won bronze. The second half of the book felt more selectively chronological covering meeting Lance, competitions, getting married, becoming a father and finally getting his gold and bronze in the 2021 delayed Olympics. Even though the categories are self help types this isn’t a self help book. It is a collection of his thoughts and stories and I got to learn more about Tom and his life and experiences. His coming out as a gay man and being a gay father. He comes off as a really good guy and you can tell he doesn’t like to ruffle feathers or share much of the negative of his sport. I chose to read this book this week because Tom happened to be in my home city supporting his husband’s premiere of his new mini-series. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2022
Even though I experienced some ups and downs with this read, it was very interesting! I am such a sucker for a autobiography so I had high hopes for this one! The saving graces for me were Tom’s experiences with anxiety, his journey to parenthood and the ending of the book as I didn’t know the outcome in real life (from the Japan Olympic Games), so there was a bit of suspense.
I can imagine reading this as a gay diver must be the most personal and relatable experience. Definitely felt I missed out on this relatability, but I think it was interesting to get a glimpse of what it takes to be a diving Olympic champion, as well as being gay at the Olympics and how that impacts one’s experience.
I can imagine reading this as a gay diver must be the most personal and relatable experience. Definitely felt I missed out on this relatability, but I think it was interesting to get a glimpse of what it takes to be a diving Olympic champion, as well as being gay at the Olympics and how that impacts one’s experience.
March 17, 2022
I’ve always felt that Tom Daley and I have a connection. Having following him since before he got married has been an absolutely pleasure seeing him achieving his life goals till now. From facing his father’s loss, his coming out to raising a child as gay parents has made the person that he is today.
On top of that, I deeply admire him in everything he does from speaking his truth, being vulnerable and somehow encouraging me to start knitting.
Last but not least, he is a vital icon in the LGTBI community as he inspire us every single breaking stereotypes and mental barriers
I love you Tom. I’m really proud of both of us! hope to meet you one day in person x
Pd: I forgot to say that this has been my first ever english book I have finished! I was afraid that I wouldn't understand what I was reading BUT I am very proud of this personal achievement! yup! yup! 👏🏼 more to come!!
On top of that, I deeply admire him in everything he does from speaking his truth, being vulnerable and somehow encouraging me to start knitting.
Last but not least, he is a vital icon in the LGTBI community as he inspire us every single breaking stereotypes and mental barriers
I love you Tom. I’m really proud of both of us! hope to meet you one day in person x
Pd: I forgot to say that this has been my first ever english book I have finished! I was afraid that I wouldn't understand what I was reading BUT I am very proud of this personal achievement! yup! yup! 👏🏼 more to come!!
October 1, 2022
Tom Daley was the first gay celebrity I ever looked up to and this book makes me respect him even more. His honesty has always been something that I find inspiring and his journey through grief, heartache and obstacles is remarkable. He brought up important topics about being queer in sports and how that is still a huge problem today. I hope that he will be at Paris 2024 but he’s already accomplished so much.
March 25, 2022
Tom Daley <3
April 25, 2022
Read one chapter but I really like the photo on the back, really makes my waters run 😜😜😜😩
June 30, 2025
A good read from a young sporting legend
October 17, 2021
i’ve been waiting for this !! everything from the highs to the lows was included, but nothing was overwritten or rambled about.
i found it a really interesting insight into the behind the scenes of diving, the olympics and toms family life.
it all felt very natural and because of this was super easy to digest. i was also really happy to see a sections and some iconic photos from tokyo 2020.
overall a lovely, down to earth book. i really enjoyed it !!
i found it a really interesting insight into the behind the scenes of diving, the olympics and toms family life.
it all felt very natural and because of this was super easy to digest. i was also really happy to see a sections and some iconic photos from tokyo 2020.
overall a lovely, down to earth book. i really enjoyed it !!
February 1, 2022
There's only an 11 year age gap between me and him, do you reckon I stand a chance?
January 8, 2022
A great, honest insight into the life of a professional athlete.
November 4, 2021
3.5 stars :)
Read
January 15, 2025I absolutely adored this book. I have decided that I am not going to rate memoirs anymore, because it feels weird to give a star rating to someone's life. I have followed Tom Daley on Instagram and YouTube for years. I was interested in his story. It is nice to see how the diving world really changed him and he even talks about what happened in 2012. It was also nice to read the chapter about his family and Lance. This gives a greater glimpse into Tom Daley and was a great read.
August 19, 2024
A memoir that truly inspired me. Tom shares his journey of overcoming prejudice and shows how, with hard work and perseverance, it’s possible to achieve your goals. The book highlights the crucial role of loved ones' support during tough times and how maintaining a positive mindset can make all the difference. He also delves into topics I was less familiar with, like surrogacy, but he explained them in a way that helped me better understand the love and desire that drive a gay couple to choose to raise a child. Although it can be a bit repetitive in places, this book filled me with positivity and, in a way, made me believe more in myself. I highly recommend it to everyone because it’s truly moving and full of inspiration.
Un'autobiografia che mi ha davvero ispirato. Tom racconta la sua storia di lotta contro i pregiudizi e dimostra come, con tanto impegno e costanza, sia possibile raggiungere i propri obiettivi. Centrale è l’importanza del supporto delle persone care nei momenti difficili e di come pensare sempre positivo possa fare la differenza. Ha affrontato anche argomenti che conoscevo poco, come la gestazione per altri, ma li ha spiegati in un modo che mi ha fatto capire meglio e comprendere l’amore ed il desiderio che spinge una coppia gay a scegliere di amare un figlio. Anche se in certi punti può sembrare un po' ripetitivo, questo libro mi ha trasmesso positività e, in un certo senso, mi ha fatto credere di più in me stesso. Lo consiglio a tutti perché è davvero emozionante e pieno di ispirazione.
Un'autobiografia che mi ha davvero ispirato. Tom racconta la sua storia di lotta contro i pregiudizi e dimostra come, con tanto impegno e costanza, sia possibile raggiungere i propri obiettivi. Centrale è l’importanza del supporto delle persone care nei momenti difficili e di come pensare sempre positivo possa fare la differenza. Ha affrontato anche argomenti che conoscevo poco, come la gestazione per altri, ma li ha spiegati in un modo che mi ha fatto capire meglio e comprendere l’amore ed il desiderio che spinge una coppia gay a scegliere di amare un figlio. Anche se in certi punti può sembrare un po' ripetitivo, questo libro mi ha trasmesso positività e, in un certo senso, mi ha fatto credere di più in me stesso. Lo consiglio a tutti perché è davvero emozionante e pieno di ispirazione.
September 24, 2022
Daley’s gold medal win in Tokyo was one of my favorite moments from the 2020 Olympics. As an Olympics junkie, I cherish the tears and the triumph, and Daley’s touched me particularly because I lost my dad in 2020. Watching him on the podium without his greatest cheerleader present struck a chord in me.
Coming Up for Air details Daley’s life in lessons rather than a linear progression. Given his focus on meditation and mindfulness in recent years, this reflective structure makes sense. It’s probably much closer to how he actually views the events rather than a chronological path to gold. Despite its overall sunshiny outlook, Daley doesn’t shy away from vulnerability about being bullied, body shamed, sexualized and repeatedly pushing his body past the brink. As an American, I think it’s hard to fully understand his popularity in the UK for almost 20 years. A child phenom in diving, he grew up quickly in the spotlight but still held to rigorous discipline to hone his sport.
It’s quite an amazing amount of achievement and heartache Daley has packed into less than 30 years. As a fan, I’m only inspired more by his behind-the-scenes account.
Coming Up for Air details Daley’s life in lessons rather than a linear progression. Given his focus on meditation and mindfulness in recent years, this reflective structure makes sense. It’s probably much closer to how he actually views the events rather than a chronological path to gold. Despite its overall sunshiny outlook, Daley doesn’t shy away from vulnerability about being bullied, body shamed, sexualized and repeatedly pushing his body past the brink. As an American, I think it’s hard to fully understand his popularity in the UK for almost 20 years. A child phenom in diving, he grew up quickly in the spotlight but still held to rigorous discipline to hone his sport.
It’s quite an amazing amount of achievement and heartache Daley has packed into less than 30 years. As a fan, I’m only inspired more by his behind-the-scenes account.
January 21, 2022
Raiting - 3.5/5
Content and Structure – The book is divided into several chapters, each of which had a theme (for example Perseverance, Purpose, Kindness, Acceptance, etc.) in which Tom would share an experience or two on how that taught him that topic. For example, in the chapter entitled Courage, he talked about his experience being a gay man in sport, the challenges he faced prior to coming out, and the courage that he built up to tell the world about his sexuality. The content throughout I thought were done well. There were chapters that I did prefer over others, some parts I thought were a bit of a stretch to talk about the main theme of the chapter, but as someone who is not a sports person, I felt myself being not only interested in reading about diving but also finding his anecdotes very identifiable. The only critique that I had was with the structure. At first, it did not seem that the stories followed any chronological pattern, but towards then end of the book, it started to talk about the more recent events. I understand why that was done (I preferred it that way), but I wished that the book followed a more sequential form as opposed to the latter as it would have made the read flow more smoothly.
Writing – Do I think that this is the best memoir I have ever read? Not really, but I still really enjoyed the read and felt that it was very authentic and candid. He is an Olympian, not a writer, so I did not expect this to be the next Great Gatsby or anything. What I loved about the writing is the emotion behind it. When Tom talked about any of the successes he has had, you felt that for him, and likewise when he talks about his lower moments, you empathised and felt sad with him as well. I do not cry when reading books, mostly because I am hollow inside, but I did feel misty-eyed reading about the struggles he has faced. Overall, the writing was very accessible, and the way he writes is very universal and easy to both identify and empathise with.
Themes – Daley talks about a lot in this book; everything from resilience, courage, identity, purpose, kindness, what have you. My favourite chapters were on Purpose and Kindness. In Purpose, he talks about his work outside of Diving and how taking a break from the sport reignited his passion for it. In Kindness, he discusses not only being kind to those around you, but also towards yourself (using his experience of Rio 2016 Olympic Games as an example). Whilst the anecdotes are nothing new to me, they are universal and very well reinforced, and I can say that this book was a great read to perk up your spirits and life yourself up with. I also loved Daley’s optimism, especially towards to end of the book (which happily the last chapter was entitled optimism). I think seeing him in the place where he is is really touching and made me want to look back at my life in a more positive way.
Overall – Tom Daley is an unbelievably remarkable young man who has achieved and gone through so much over the years, and I truly wish nothing but for the best for him. I think being a fan of him made reading this book more enjoyable, but I can see people who do not know much about him take something away from reading this book. It is a very accessible read, with a lot touching and motivating stories. It is a book I will turn to if I need a pick me up and I would highly recommend it for not only fans of Tom Daley, but people who want to read from an exceptionally talented and inspirational person.
Content and Structure – The book is divided into several chapters, each of which had a theme (for example Perseverance, Purpose, Kindness, Acceptance, etc.) in which Tom would share an experience or two on how that taught him that topic. For example, in the chapter entitled Courage, he talked about his experience being a gay man in sport, the challenges he faced prior to coming out, and the courage that he built up to tell the world about his sexuality. The content throughout I thought were done well. There were chapters that I did prefer over others, some parts I thought were a bit of a stretch to talk about the main theme of the chapter, but as someone who is not a sports person, I felt myself being not only interested in reading about diving but also finding his anecdotes very identifiable. The only critique that I had was with the structure. At first, it did not seem that the stories followed any chronological pattern, but towards then end of the book, it started to talk about the more recent events. I understand why that was done (I preferred it that way), but I wished that the book followed a more sequential form as opposed to the latter as it would have made the read flow more smoothly.
Writing – Do I think that this is the best memoir I have ever read? Not really, but I still really enjoyed the read and felt that it was very authentic and candid. He is an Olympian, not a writer, so I did not expect this to be the next Great Gatsby or anything. What I loved about the writing is the emotion behind it. When Tom talked about any of the successes he has had, you felt that for him, and likewise when he talks about his lower moments, you empathised and felt sad with him as well. I do not cry when reading books, mostly because I am hollow inside, but I did feel misty-eyed reading about the struggles he has faced. Overall, the writing was very accessible, and the way he writes is very universal and easy to both identify and empathise with.
Themes – Daley talks about a lot in this book; everything from resilience, courage, identity, purpose, kindness, what have you. My favourite chapters were on Purpose and Kindness. In Purpose, he talks about his work outside of Diving and how taking a break from the sport reignited his passion for it. In Kindness, he discusses not only being kind to those around you, but also towards yourself (using his experience of Rio 2016 Olympic Games as an example). Whilst the anecdotes are nothing new to me, they are universal and very well reinforced, and I can say that this book was a great read to perk up your spirits and life yourself up with. I also loved Daley’s optimism, especially towards to end of the book (which happily the last chapter was entitled optimism). I think seeing him in the place where he is is really touching and made me want to look back at my life in a more positive way.
Overall – Tom Daley is an unbelievably remarkable young man who has achieved and gone through so much over the years, and I truly wish nothing but for the best for him. I think being a fan of him made reading this book more enjoyable, but I can see people who do not know much about him take something away from reading this book. It is a very accessible read, with a lot touching and motivating stories. It is a book I will turn to if I need a pick me up and I would highly recommend it for not only fans of Tom Daley, but people who want to read from an exceptionally talented and inspirational person.
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