• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Politics
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Gay Pride
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Men
  • Space
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Monkeypox
  • Film/TV

Tom Daley, JK Rowling, and the ‘Heartbreaking’ Semi-Final Elimination at Rio 2016

Muri Assunção August 22, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tom Daley JK Rowling

tom1Of the 18 divers battling out for 12 spots in the men’s 10m platform Saturday at the Barra Olympic Park’s Maria Lenks Aquatic Center, 22-year-old Tom Daley of Great Britain was one of the strongest contenders for the gold medal.

At age 15, he won the World Championship in the event; he finished third in London 2012 and got the Olympic bronze medal; and just a few days ago in Rio he’d won another bronze medal, for the men’s synchronized 10m platform diving, with diving partner Dan Goodfellow.

Daley had also delivered a near-perfect performance the day before during the qualifiers with a score of 571.85, which put him on the top of the scoreboard. (That score would’ve won him the gold medal in London, when winner David Boudia of the U.S. had scored 568.65 points.)

It was Daley’s year for the gold medal, and few thought otherwise.

The first of six dives didn’t go too well and he got a score of 54. Unprecedented for someone like him, but he was sure he could recover. It was only the semifinal, anyway, and all he had to do was to score enough to be in the top 12.

tom2

But then his second dive went even worse, 47.25, and knew he was in trouble.

“Today I don’t really know what went wrong. I’ve no idea,” he later told reporters. “I’ve been so good. Training’s been going really well, I’m in the shape of my life, moving better than I’ve ever moved before and last night showed that.”

Something was wrong with Tom today. He's been in incredible shape. A favourite to get in the medals if not gold. Sport is cruel.

— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) August 20, 2016

tom5Daley was the last diver of each rotation, so going into his last dive, he knew exactly what he needed in order to reach 102 points to move on to the final. He only scored 50.40.

“When it came to the last dive and I needed 9.5s and 10s to qualify, I knew I can do that,” he said.  “I gave it my everything and tried my absolute best. It’s just heartbreaking to think that after four years of hard work and effort it’s tough to accept.

His fiancé Dustin Lance Black took to Twitter to show him love and support.

We are all so proud of all you've achieved here in #Rio2016 @TomDaley1994. We fight again another day! ONWARD! ❤️❤️❤️

— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) August 20, 2016

“At the Olympics you can get your dreams crushed in an instant,” he said through tears. “It doesn’t get any lower than this.”

tom6tom3

Sadly, it did get lower than that.

Shortly after the event, a UK-based hate-group called “Christian Voice” tweeted (to its less than 700 followers) that Daley failed to qualify to the semifinals because he was gay.

Turning gay doesn't seem to have done Tom Daley any favours at #Rio2016 https://t.co/tdbT0Y5acx

— Christian Voice (@UKCV) August 20, 2016

And, of course, Daley “went gay” because of the evil works of a pedohile.

#Rio2016 And we need to remember that Tom Daley only went gay because he was seduced by an older man: https://t.co/lsbQT1Jo3Z

— Christian Voice (@UKCV) August 20, 2016

Thankfully, Harry Potter’s own J.K. Rowling chimed in and tweeted (to her almost 8 million followers):

Can't decide which is more offensive in this tweet, the stupidity or the spite. https://t.co/ksqZp17drc

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 20, 2016

Thank you, J.K.

And Bye, Felicia!

tom4

Photos: Muri Assunção/Towleroad

Topics: Sports, towleroad More Posts About: Diving, JK Rowling, Olympics, Rio 2016, Tom Daley

Related Posts
  • Daniel Radcliffe Hopes Message of ‘Harry Potter’ Books Will Not Be Tainted by J.K. Rowling’s Transphobic Statements
  • Author JK Rowling Slammed for Transphobic Tweets, Once Again
  • Does JK Rowling Have A History Of Transphobic Tweets?
  • Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

    Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Angela Lansbury is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tony Awards. The 96-year-old actress – who has won five Tonys during her career – will be honoured …Read More »
  • Factbox: Seven races to watch in Georgia, Alabama midterm primaries, Texas run-offs

    Factbox: Seven races to watch in Georgia, Alabama midterm primaries, Texas run-offs

    Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Voters in Georgia and Alabama will pick candidates for the U.S. Congress and other offices in Tuesday primaries testing former President Donald Trump’s power over his Republican Party ahead of …Read More »
  • Cybill Shepherd supports Bruce Willis after aphasia diagnosis

    Cybill Shepherd supports Bruce Willis after aphasia diagnosis

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Cybill Shepherd “will always love” Bruce Willis. ‘Die Hard’ legend Bruce, 67, has stepped away from the big screen after finding it increasingly difficult to manage his lines on set after …Read More »
  • WHO says no evidence monkeypox virus has mutated

    WHO says no evidence monkeypox virus has mutated

    Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The World Health Organization does not have evidence that the monkeypox virus has mutated, a senior executive at the U.N. agency said on Monday, noting the infectious disease that is endemic …Read More »
Previous Post: « Yet Another Transgender Woman Suffers Brutal Attack in New York
Next Post: Bette Midler Apologizes For Transphobic Caitlyn Jenner Tweet »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • US flight brings tons of needed baby formula from Germany

    US flight brings tons of needed baby formula from Germany

  • Courtney Love apologises for ‘bullying’ Amber Heard

    Courtney Love apologises for ‘bullying’ Amber Heard

  • ‘Desperate To Chase His Lost Relevance’: Donald Trump SLAMS Mike Pence’s ‘Plans’ To Run For President In 2024

    ‘Desperate To Chase His Lost Relevance’: Donald Trump SLAMS Mike Pence’s ‘Plans’ To Run For President In 2024

  • Russian soldier jailed for life in first war crimes trial of Ukraine war

    Russian soldier jailed for life in first war crimes trial of Ukraine war

Break

  • Starbucks to completely exit Russia after Ukraine invasion

    Starbucks to completely exit Russia after Ukraine invasion

  • Evan Spiegel & Miranda Kerr Pay Off $10 Million In Loans Of Otis College’s Graduating Class

    Evan Spiegel & Miranda Kerr Pay Off $10 Million In Loans Of Otis College’s Graduating Class

  • Vladimir Putin’s Daughter SECRETLY Living In Germany With Man Named Igor Zelensky

    Vladimir Putin’s Daughter SECRETLY Living In Germany With Man Named Igor Zelensky

  • Tucker Carlson: Voice of white America’s outrage and fears

    Tucker Carlson: Voice of white America’s outrage and fears

RSS Partner Links

  • Pati LuPone pays visit to Colbert tonight!
  • Gio Benitez and Tommy DiDario are in LA!
  • Wendy Williams Has Been Given A Financial Guardian, And She’s Not Thrilled About That
  • Gay New Yorker Shot Dead On Subway ... Why? + THE OWL HOUSE Brings Gay Kiss To Disney Channel + Putin Loses A Diplomat + MORE! — 6-PACK
  • OMG, he’s naked: German actor David Bredin in ‘Tamara’
  • OMG, WATCH: Courteney Cox teases SCREAM 6!
  • Morning Round-Up: Chris Meloni; Maggie Smith; Max Greenfield & Jake Johnson; Hugh Jackman & more!
  • Birthday Sluts
  • Manspread Monday

Most Recent

  • U.S. health officials releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for monkeypox – CDC

    U.S. health officials releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for monkeypox – CDC

  • Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

    Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

  • Factbox: Seven races to watch in Georgia, Alabama midterm primaries, Texas run-offs

    Factbox: Seven races to watch in Georgia, Alabama midterm primaries, Texas run-offs

  • Cybill Shepherd supports Bruce Willis after aphasia diagnosis

    Cybill Shepherd supports Bruce Willis after aphasia diagnosis

  • WHO says no evidence monkeypox virus has mutated

    WHO says no evidence monkeypox virus has mutated

  • U.S. Southern Baptists release scathing report on sexual abuse

    U.S. Southern Baptists release scathing report on sexual abuse

  • Indonesia summons Britain’s envoy after furore over rainbow flag

    Indonesia summons Britain’s envoy after furore over rainbow flag

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Log in