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Olympic medallist Daniel Goodfellow announces retirement from diving
January 13, 2025Olympic bronze medallist Daniel Goodfellow has announced his retirement from a diving career that saw him medal at every major event.
The 28-year-old, who won Olympic bronze as a teenager alongside Tom Daley in the Men’s 10m Synchronised Platform at the Rio 2016 Games, called time on his 20-year journey in the sport at the weekend saying that the time was right to start something new.
Posting on Instagram, he said: “What a journey. When I started diving, I never thought it would shape my life the way it has.
“It never seems like it will end when you’re living it but after more than twenty years of training and competing, it feels like now is the right time to close this chapter and start something new.”
Success at all levels
After learning to dive in his hometown of Cambridge at just 8 years of age, (with Cambridge Dive Team) Goodfellow showed incredible promise as a youngster – competing at three consecutive European Junior Championships between 2011 and 2013.
He won European Junior bronze in the 3m Springboard in 2011, before taking Group A Platform gold two years later in what was his breakout year.
2013 saw him move to Plymouth Diving Club ahead of that European Junior gold as well as his senior European and World Championship debuts, leading him to be for his first Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Unfortunately, injury ruined his chances of appearing in Glasgow but Goodfellow bounced back, forming a new partnership with Daley that went on to take Olympic bronze.
The pair teamed up again two-years later where the then City of Leeds diver made up for last time by winning the first of his two Commonwealth Games golds with the 10m synchro title on the Gold Coast.
Goodfellow then switched down to the 3m in 2019 as he looked to prolong his career, joining forces with another Olympic medallist in Jack Laugher.
The pair won world silver in 2019 before claiming World Cup gold in Tokyo at the Olympic test event.
Unfortunately, the duo couldn’t repeat that result at Goodfellow’s second games in Tokyo, finishing in an impressive seventh place.
Goodfellow then turned his attentions to individual success, becoming a Commonwealth champion for the second time as he led an all Team England podium at Birmingham 2022 in the 3m Springboard.
He also joined Daley, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Scarlett Mew Jensen to claim his maiden World title, in the Mixed Team event, at Doha 2024 before narrowly missing out on a place at his third Olympics in Paris.
‘No regrets’
Reflecting on his career, Goodfellow said that he leaves the sport with no regrets and the hope that he’s inspired the next generation.
“I realise how fortunate and privileged I’ve been to be part of an era of British Diving that has seen so much success and growth. I’ve always done things my way but I leave the sport with no regrets and I hope I’ve inspired at least one person the way I was.
“I went from learning how to dive at a small pool in Cambridge when I was 8 years old to fulfilling my dream of competing at an Olympic Games with athletes who I grew up idolising.
“When I look back, it was never really about what I brought home but the people I’ve met in this sport who have made me feel like I belonged to something bigger than myself.
“It’s given me the chance to meet lifelong friends and I’ll always be here If anyone wants to reach out, this isn’t a goodbye.
“To my coaches, family, friends and anyone else who has helped me along the way, my achievements are just as much yours as they are mine, none of it was possible without you.”
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