Tom Daley reached the peak of his career in 2021. At the Tokyo Olympics, he bagged the gold in the 10 m synchronized swimming and the man who was beside him in his success was none other than Matty Lee. Together, the British divers put themselves on the map as the next top guys. But sporting success is as uncertain as it gets. While many expected a reign of dominance, a tragedy that happened with Matty in 2024 shattered all these dreams.

Matty has been a decorated diver, and even outside the Olympics, he has proven himself time and again. With silver medals in the World Championships at the 2023 event in Budapest and gold medals at the 2020 Commonwealth, his success was anything but guaranteed. Back in March 2024, he suffered a serious spinal injury, which forced him out of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Then came the most surprising twist of all. To support himself financially, Lee turned to the adult content platform OnlyFans. This sparked curiosity and debate. And now, in a decision that few anticipated, he has announced his retirement from the sport entirely. What pushed the 26-year-old to walk away? In an emotional Instagram post, Lee laid out the struggles that led to his decision. It was more than just injuries.

It was about loss, purpose, and the weight of an uncertain future. “After 20 years in the sport, it’s time for me to step away from diving,” he wrote, a statement that carried the weight of two decades of sacrifice. But at the heart of his decision was something deeper than the physical toll. “After losing my dad in 2022, I struggled to find the same passion I once had. He was my why.”

For Lee, diving was never just a career. It was a connection to his father, his biggest supporter, and when that anchor was gone, so too was the fire that had driven him for years. His post was not just a farewell but a tribute to those who shaped his journey. “Diving has given me the world, literally. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve traveled, the memories I’ve made. That’s what I’ll cherish the most.”

Lee honored his mother, who stood by him through every high and low; his coach, Jane Figueiredo, who molded him into a champion; and, of course, Tom Daley, his partner and friend who is a five-time Olympic medalist. Even though Lee’s Olympic championship remained the highest point that defined his professional accomplishments, it never became the foundation for his life afterward.

From podiums to paywalls—athletes redefining success

While Tom Daley’s long-awaited Olympic gold was the headline, Lee’s triumph was just as significant. Partnering with an athlete he had once idolized—he didn’t just compete alongside Daley. Lee evolved under Tom’s mentorship. “I 100% have become a better diver just from the two or three years I’ve been training with Tom,” he told Attitude magazine. This shows the impact of their partnership.

Their synchronized 10 m platform performance was nothing short of spectacular, securing a total score of 471.81. Lee achieved more than a medal through his victory, which secured his status as an athlete in the public spotlight. But even then, uncertainty loomed. “Whatever Tom decides to do after this Olympics, I don’t know what I’m going to do without him, to be fair,” he had said in 2021.

Time has revealed a deeper significance to his innocent remark. His career took an unforeseen direction within several years after earning fame at the Olympics, thus demonstrating that achievement does not provide guaranteed future success. Unstable financial circumstances following competitive sports careers cause some athletes, just like Lee, to utilize content-sharing platforms such as OnlyFans.

Talk about athletes from Great Britain—Daniel Goodfellow and Matthew Dixon! The subscription costs at Lee’s OnlyFans total $20 per month and provide members access to exclusive material. Now that Matty Lee has finished his diving career, a new chapter of his life begins, leading people to wonder about his future direction. Will he carve out a new path in entertainment or something entirely unexpected? Let us know in the comments: What do you think about his sudden decision?