Diving star Daley thanks fans after gay revelation

Olympic diver Tom Daley has thanked supporters for backing his decision to announce he is in a gay relationship.

The 19-year-old British diver posted a video to YouTube to announce he was dating a man.

Daley followed up the video with a Twitter post following the widespread support his emotional admission garnered from fellow celebrities and fans alike.

“Overwhelmed by all the support! Means the world! Thanks so much guys,” he posted yesterday afternoon.

In the YouTube video, Daley said he “couldn’t be happier” after revealing his gay relationship.

“I’ve never really had a serious relationship to talk about,” he said. “Now I kind of feel ready to talk about my relationships.

“Come spring this year, my life changed massively when I met someone and it made me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great. And that someone is a guy.”

Daley said the relationship “felt right” and instantly changed his world.

“Of course I still fancy girls. But I mean, right now I’m dating a guy and I couldn’t be happier. It makes me feel safe and just really does feel right.”

Daley, whose father Rob Daley died in May 2011 following a battle with brain cancer, added: “People will think ‘What will your dad say?’ or ‘What would your dad have said?’. He always said to me, ‘As long as you’re happy, I’m happy’, and right now I couldn’t be happier.”

The teenage sports star posted a link to the video to his 2.4m Twitter followers, with the message: “Got something I need to say... not been an easy decision to make, hope you can support me!”

Daley conceded via his YouTube clip that although friends and relatives had been “so supportive” about his relationship, he had received “mixed opinions” from some family members.

“Lots of them didn’t believe it,” he said.