Olympic champion and TV personality Tom Daley is speaking candidly about his struggles with body dysmorphia and bulimia, revealing the deep impact of unrealistic body expectations within the gay community.
In an interview with Radio Times, Daley reflected on how his husband, Dustin Lance Black, has been his emotional anchor. Daley said, “My husband’s been a huge support in that. I think it’s a big thing in the gay world. Some people have very unrealistic body expectations.” The 31-year-old admitted that even as an Olympian, he feels pressure at the gym. “I go to the gym and I hate it because I’m like, ‘Oh my God, everybody’s judging me for how I’m doing this.’ I find it intimidating.”
Daley traced the roots of his struggle back to age 17, when his performance director told him he was overweight. He recalls, “I used to get so hungry that I’d binge. Then when I binged, I’d feel so bad that I was bulimic for a while…It was a dark time because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it.” Now, through his documentary Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds, he hopes that sharing his story helps others feel less alone.
