Coming Up for Air
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4.3 • 12 Ratings
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A deeply personal and inspiring memoir from the celebrated Olympic gold medal diver and LGBTQ+ advocate, who is set to make history in his fifth Olympic games in Paris 2024
Tom Daley is one of the most beloved athletes of our time, garnering Olympic diving medals and finally, in 2021 in Tokyo, winning gold. In 2024, he'll make history as the first British diver to compete in five Olympics. But few people know the realities of his life beyond the pool—his struggles, his secret triumphs and the mindset he needed to cultivate to become a champion.
In this deeply personal book, Tom explores the experiences that have shaped him and the qualities that brought him success and joy—from the resilience he developed competing at a world-class level, to the courage he discovered while reclaiming the narrative around his sexuality, to the perspective that family life has brought him.
Inspiring, candid and compulsively readable, Coming Up for Air offers an intimate window into the life and mindset of an athlete and advocate who has left an indelible imprint on sports.
"An illuminating look at what it takes to be an Olympian… In this story, passion reigns supreme." —Cosmopolitan
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
During almost every moment of this illuminating memoir, you can feel the intense pressure to perform. British diver Tom Daley competed in his first Olympics when he was just 14. From his earliest training experiences all the way to his gold-winning effort at the 2021 games in Tokyo, Daley takes us on his incredible journey as both an athlete and as a person. We were surprised and moved by his spells of self-doubt and his terrifying bout of the “twisties”—a paralyzing mental block experienced by divers and gymnasts. It was astounding to read the multitude of thoughts that fill his head in the crucial moments before a dive. And we couldn’t have been more charmed by his love affair and eventual marriage to screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, and the birth of their son Robbie. Coming Up for Air proves that Daley’s grace and courage extend well past the 10-meter platform.
