Tom Daley reveals a stranger once asked if he needed help changing his son's nappy as he opens up about the assumed incompetence male same-sex parents face
The retired diver, 31, shares sons Phoenix, two, and Robbie Ray, six, with his screenwriter husband Dustin Lance Black, 50.
They met in 2013 and wed two years later before welcoming their little ones who were sweetly seen supporting Tom poolside at the Paris 2024 Olympics last year.
But in a new interview he has touched on how two dads often feel like they have to 'overachieve'.
He told The Times: 'When you're same-sex parents, you feel as though you have to, again, overachieve. Someone asked if I wanted them to change Robbie's nappy for me.
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'You don't want people to judge you. Because it matters to us so much, and we really care that we're doing the best job that we can.'
In the interview he also spoke about first meeting Dustin, revealing that they named their future children on their first date and said 'I love you' on their second.
Before Dustin he had mostly dated women but never felt like he could 'fall in love' with them.
He said: 'I'd been with girls for a very long time and so I had felt as though, if I really wanted to, I could suppress [my sexuality].
'But after meeting Lance I was, like, oh maybe this 'conflicted' thing isn't just sexual. It was actually what my heart wanted as well.'
On Valentine's Day 2018, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child on Instagram.
Their first child Robert Ray Black-Daley was born June 27, 2018.
Tom and Dustin welcomed their second son with an official announcement in the Times on April 5, 2023, reading: 'Black-Daley on 28th March to Thomas Robert Daley and Dustin Lance Black, a son, Phoenix Rose.'
Last year Dustin shared a heartfelt tribute to his 'warrior' husband To m after he announced his retirement from diving following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Tom claimed a silver medal in the synchronized 10-metre platform with Noah Williams to complete his set of medals, following a gold in Tokyo and three other bronze medals.
He had originally left open the possibility of competing at a sixth Games in Los Angeles – where he lives – in 2028. But Britain's most successful diver then confirmed he retiring, 16 years after making his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old in Beijing.
After his partner Dustin has shared a gallery of snaps of Tom, reflecting on his 'magnificent journey' as he 'hung up his trunks' for good.
The pair, who met in 2013 and tied the knot four years later, looked considerably younger in some photos together as they posed with Tom's medals.
Dusting wrote: 'It has been the honour of my life to be by your side on this magnificent journey, Tom. You are a shining example that true warriors can also have true hearts.
'As you now hang up your trunks, I will deeply miss supporting your 'impossible' diving dreams in whatever small ways I could over the past 10+ years, and screaming like a mad man as you turned every single one of those dreams into reality.
'I also feel certain you have a long list of new 'impossible' dreams, and I will be there by your side all the way, baby.
'For now, I am going to look back with joy and love (and more than a few tears) at some old photos of the early days when I first had the tremendous good fortune to witness a warrior fight to achieve the 'impossible.'
'You did it, Tom. You did it all. I love you so much.'
Re-sharing a video of Tom getting emotional while discussing his retirement, Dustin penned: 'I love this huge hearted warrior so much.
'Oh sweet Tom. I will miss supporting your diving dreams in whatever small ways I could and screaming at the top of my lungs as you turned everyone of your dreams into reality.
'But I also feel certain you have a long list of new 'impossible' dreams and it will be my honour to keep cheering you on at every magnificent turn'.
Dustin also shared a snap of the 'first competition' he attended to support Tom and thanked him for letting him be a 'small part' of his journey.
He added: 'From one of the first competitions I ever got to attend. It will take a long while to sink in that this spectacular sporting journey of yours has found its ending.
'But what an incredible ride it has been. Thank you for letting me be a small part of it. Truly the honour of a lifetime'.
Following competing at the Olympics, Tom told Vogue: 'It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive.
'But I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time to call it a day.
'I've spent my whole life doing this and being able to let go of it is going to be hard. It's going to be a major adjustment.
'I would love for people to remember me for being a person that persevered, who persisted and didn't give up on his dream until he was able to achieve it.
'To currently be Britain's most decorated diver, I feel so incredibly proud. When I look back, I'm really, genuinely satisfied with what I've done.'
Daley, who has two children, stayed at the Olympics after his diving event to do punditry for Eurosport and now wants to pursue more TV work.
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