Tom Daley’s advice on what LGBTQ+ athletes should do in anti-gay countries

Tom Daley’s most significant accomplishment in his final year of competitive diving might not have been at the Paris Olympics.

With his husband and their young sons watching, Daley earned a silver medal alongside Noah Williams in the 10m synchro in late July, completing his collection of medal colours from five Summer Games.

Nonetheless, at the World Championships five months earlier, Daley was also part of a gold-medal-winning team for Great Britain in the mixed team event.

What added to the significance of the openly gay athlete’s triumph with his friends in February was his visible representation of LGBTQ+ people in a country known for its anti-LGBTQ+ stance. At the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha, Qatar's capital, Daley used a rainbow shammy towel to dry off, making a statement.

He had been vocal from a distance during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, bringing attention to the persecution of queer people in the Gulf state and in other regions with similar laws.

Speaking out openly in Qatar would have been too risky for Daley, but by attending with a Pride symbol, he contributed to challenging the harmful narratives perpetuated about LGBTQ+ people.

This theme of empowerment is one Daley revisits as he promotes a new exhibition in Japan, the only G7 nation that does not recognise gay marriage.

The exhibition, which celebrates knitted art, will be held at the Parco Museum in Tokyo’s Shibuya district from Nov. 8-25. Daley, whose passion for crocheting has inspired many, will be present this Friday for a live workshop. In the city where Daley won Olympic gold three years ago and expressed his pride as an openly gay man, there is a chance to further dismantle stigmas and taboos.

A message supporting equality will be woven throughout the displays, reports The Guardian, while funds from a silent auction of Daley's designs and merchandise sales will support the “Marriage for All Japan” campaign.

Speaking to the newspaper, the 30-year-old shares his key advice from competing abroad, often in places where homosexuality is criminalised: to always be genuinely yourself.

As ‘Out Sports’, writes, Daley emphasises the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility in countries with restrictive laws, characterising personal success and authenticity during international sporting events as powerful forms of activism.

He acknowledges his privilege as a high-profile athlete compared to many LGBTQ+ individuals, but within elite sports, where athletes have little say over event locations, he offers a practical perspective.

Too often, the burden falls on participants rather than on governing bodies and federations prioritising profits over individuals’ well-being.

It becomes easier for these tournaments’ organisers when LGBTQ+ athletes choose to remain invisible.

As Daley retires from competitive sports, there’s an opportunity for a new generation of brave gay and bisexual men in sports to utilise their platforms and continue the fight for global freedoms.

The situation in Japan illustrates the ongoing fragility of LGBTQ+ rights in many regions. Only grassroots LGBTQ+ activism can strengthen these rights.

Last week, a second Japanese High Court ruling deemed the government’s policy on equal marriage unconstitutional. Even if progress is made, anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ citizens remain limited in Japan.