'I'm dating a guy... but I still fancy girls': Olympic diver Tom Daley reveals he is in a relationship with a man in heartfelt video message about his sexuality
- The 19-year-old revealed the news in a heartfelt video message on his YouTube page
- Tom admitted he has been dating the man since Spring, and has 'never been happier'
- But Tom also insisted in the video that he 'still fancies girls'
- The Olympic diver added that while his mother has been supportive, some of his other family members have 'mixed opinions'
- Kylie Minogue, Russell Brand and David Walliams led the celebrities tweeting their support for Tom
By SARAH BULL
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Olympic diver Tom Daley has revealed he is in a relationship with a man.
The 19-year-old athlete, who has been plagued by rumours about his sexuality since the beginning of his sporting career, posted a heartfelt message to his fans on his YouTube page
However, Tom insisted that despite dating a man, he 'still fancies girls'.
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Revelations: Tom Daley has revealed he is dating a man in a heartfelt video message on his YouTube page
Explaining his decision to announce the romance, Tom said in the video: 'Now I feel ready to talk about my relationships.
And 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 - and it did take me by surprise a little bit.'
'Not been an easy decision': Tom tweeted a link to the video on Monday morning
Setting the record straight: Tom insisted he wanted to break the news in a video so his words could not be twisted and his fans would know the truth
He continued: 'It was always in the back of my head that something like that could happen but it wasn't until spring this year that something just clicked, it felt right and I was like, "Ah ok" and my whole world changed right here and then.
'And of course I still fancy girls but right now I'm dating a guy and I couldn't be happier. It just feels safe and it just feels right.'
Tom added in the video that while people may ask what his late father would think of his announcement, he knows that his dad Rob, who tragically died in 2011 after battling brain cancer, would be happy for him no matter what.
Sporting hero: Olympic athlete Tom put an end to years of speculation by admitting that he is bisexual
Still as motivated as ever: Tom insisted that the new relationship has done nothing to stop his motivation ahead of the Rio Olympic games in 2016
He said: 'People are going to make a big deal of this. Is it a big deal? I don't think is. But I wanted to say something and I feel like now I'm ready and I wanted to do it.
'He would be happy for me': Tom insisted his late father Rob would be proud of him no matter what
'People will say, "What would your dad have said?" But he always said, "As long as you're happy, I'm happy." And I've never been happier.'
However, Tom added that while the majority of his friends and family have been supportive, some others have had 'mixed opinions'.
He said: 'My mum has been so supportive. And I can count the amount of people I have told on one hand And all my friends and family that I've told have been great.
'But I told the rest of my family today and, well, let's just say they had mixed opinions. Lots of them didn't believe it, lots of them wanted me to keep it quiet.
'Some of them said, why don't you just do a statement, why don't you do a magazine cover, why don't you do a TV interview but I didn't want to get my words twisted.
'I wanted to put an end to all the rumours and the speculation and just say it, just tell you guys, because you know, it's what I want to do.'
Tom added that he was prompted to reveal the truth about his sexuality when an interview was printed which 'misquoted' him.
Supportive: Tom posted this image with his mother Debbie on Sunday night with the caption 'So lucky to have such a supportive mum! I love you!'
Screen star: Tom is also preparing for the second season of Splash!, and is seen here watching Gemma Merna prepare for a dive
CELEBRITIES TWEET THEIR SUPPORT
'@TomDaley1994 Well done sunshine, dive into love' - RUSSELL BRAND
'Inspiring and brave…..as always!!! #RespectTom' - KYLIE MINOGUE
'Huge respect for @tomdaley1994 for coming out in such a brave manner. Lovely guy too X' - UNA HEALY
'Delighted that @TomDaley1994 is happy in his new relationship. Well done for sharing it. Good luck to them both' - GARY LINEKER
'Well done @TomDaley1994 brave decision to be honest about current relationship with man." Is it a big deal I don't think so" '- MATTHEW PINSENT
'Of course we support you @TomDaley1994 and we all love you even more for your bravery and honesty. X' - DAVID WALLIAMS
'Well done Tom Daley' - MATT LUCAS
'Very pleased for @TomDaley1994 that he has found happiness, lovely story :)' - KATIE PIPER
'So happy for you @TomDaley1994' - TOWIE'S LAUREN POPE
'Well done @TomDaley1994 really brave thing todo! #proud' - UNION J'S JAYMI HENSLEY
'What a brilliant chap that @TomDaley1994 is eh?' - RADIO 1 DJ GREG JAMES
'Insane amount of love for @TomDaley1994 today, the only man I've ever googled imaged to admire the beauty of!' - SINGER LUCY SPRAGGAN
It is believed the interview to which he was referring appeared in the Daily Mirror in September, when Tom was quoted as saying: 'I think it’s funny when people say I’m gay... I laugh it off.
'I’m not. But even if I was, I wouldn’t be ashamed. It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest what people thought.'
He also revealed in the video that while he may have been 'vague' in the past about his relationships, he has never outrightly lied.
Tom concluded the 5 minute video message by asking his fans to support him as he continues his journey to the next Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.
He said: 'I'm still Tom, I still want to win a gold medal in Rio 2016 for Great Britain. I'm still as motivated as ever to do that. And it would be great to have you guys on that journey too.
'But I just wanted to make sure that I got to tell you guys before I head off to Houston for a training camp that I've got up until Christmas.
'But I'm glad I've got it off my chest and I hope you can join me on my journey to Rio 2016 too.'
Tom previously dated US diver Kassidy Cook, and was also romantically linked to teammate Tonia Couch, who later denied the claims and insisted she is more like his 'big sister'.
The sportsman also detailed in his autobiography My Story how he had enjoyed a passionate smooch with American diver American diver Mary Beth Dunnichay during the Beijing Olympics, when he was just 14.
He wrote: 'I had been told she really liked me and I liked her, too. I wanted to kiss her but I ended up just giving her a peck on the cheek.
'Back in our apartments, Tonia told me I should have gone for it, so I walked to Mary Beth’s room and I gave her a proper kiss, which was amazing.'
Tom's celebrity friends were quick to voice their support for the diver after his announcement.
Kylie Minogue wrote: 'Inspiring and brave…..as always!!! #RespectTom.'
While Russell Brand kept it simple by tweeting: '@TomDaley1994 Well done sunshine, dive into love.'
Football commentator Gary Lineker wrote: 'Delighted that @TomDaley1994 is happy in his new relationship. Well done for sharing it. Good luck to them both.'
And David Walliams said: 'Of course we support you @TomDaley1994 and we all love you even more for your bravery and honesty. X'
Former loves: Tom previously dated US diver Kassidy Cook
Romance rumours: He was also romantically linked to teammate Tonia Couch, but she later denied the claims
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2516759/Tom-Daley-comes-out.html#ixzz2mLYIpImS
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