Tom Daley leaves door open to compete in his FIFTH Olympics after winning gold and bronze in Tokyo

Tom Daley dropped a strong hint he could compete at the next Olympics in three years’ time after collecting bronze in the men’s 10 metre platform with a near-faultless display in a gripping final.

Daley topping the podium alongside Matty Lee in the men’s synchronised event was one of the feelgood stories of Tokyo 2020 and although solo success continues to be elusive, he claimed his fourth Olympic medal on Saturday.

He led at halfway at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre but a minor error from his fourth dive and the excellence of Chinese pair Cao Yuan and Yang Jian, who took gold and silver respectively, meant Daley settled for a third Olympic bronze.

Daley won bronze in the men’s 10m platform after leading in the halfway stage in the final

It may not yet be the last hurrah of an Olympic career that began at Beijing 2008 as Daley has not ruled out continuing to Paris 2024 and could be enticed by the prospect of mixed or team events being put into the schedule.

While the only thing he did confirm is an imminent period of rest, Daley thinks a unique system of exercise called gyrotonics he has incorporated into his routine since son Robbie was born in 2018 could prolong his diving career.

‘I hear of rumours through the grapevine that they might put in the mixed synchro events or a team event into diving, which would mean three more events – that might be worth sticking around for,’ the 27-year-old said.

‘Regardless of what that decision is, I’m definitely going to take a break over the next six months or so. I’ve been doing it for 20 years and my body needs a bit of a break.

‘And then, I’m not necessarily putting any decision on it. At the end of the day I love the sport and I feel like I’m just getting back into the swing of things now. I had a bit of a dip in 2018 with injuries and things.

‘But since Robbie has been born I’ve found gyrotonics, which is something that’s really helped me stay flexible and use muscles that I can actually stay healthy with.

‘Over the next year I’ll make the decision, but at the moment my body is doing alright so I don’t know why I would quit now. It’s also nice to be an Olympic champion. When you have that feeling, you also want to do it again.’

With victory here, Cao became the first person to win gold in three different diving events, having reigned as champion in the men’s 10m synchronised event at London 2012 and the men’s 3m springboard at Rio 2016.

A minor error in his fourth dive harmed Daley’s chances of gold, which was won by Cao Yuan

The bronze capped a brilliant fourth Games for Daley after winning gold with Matty Lee

Daley, who collected impressive 90-plus scores with five of his six dives and has captured the imagination in the Japanese capital in the last couple of weeks with his knitting, was delighted to finish on the podium.

‘I’m so extremely happy to come away with a gold and a bronze medal from these Olympic Games, my most successful Games yet,’ he said.

Daley, who came out in 2013 and is married to American screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, is among a record number of LGBT+ athletes at these Games, some of whom have come in for offensive commentary from Russian state television.

‘I had no idea. When we’re at the Olympics, it’s kind of like we’re in a bubble and we don’t really see anything,’ Daley said.

While he feels accepted by his own nation, Daley believes there is still a lot more that can be done worldwide.

‘Of course it’s come a long way,’ he added. ‘There’s still a lot further to go. There are 10 countries that are competing at these Olympic Games where being LGBT is punishable by death.

Daley is open to competing in Paris after using gyrotonics to stay flexible and in top shape

‘I feel extremely lucky to be representing Team GB, to be able to stand on the diving board as myself with a husband and a son and not worry about any ramifications.

‘But I know that I’m very fortunate to have that and that there are lots of people who grow up around the world with less fortunate situations.

‘I just hope that seeing out sportspeople in all these different sports is going to help people feel less alone, feel like they are valued and can achieve something.’