Tom Daley, Husband Appear at BBC's 'Sports Personality' Awards

Out Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley and husband Dustin Lance Black were in attendance at the BBC's Sports Personality Of The Year Awards event on Dec. 19, and Daley gave a speech.

The awards, which were introduced in 1954, comprise eight categories.

Daley "secured his status as one of the country's top sportsmen after winning gold for the men's synchronized 10-meter platform during the Tokyo Olympics 2020," UK newspaper the Daily Mail said.

The Mail zeroed in on the couple's fashion choices, noting that the two "aligned their styles for the evening, looking suave in grey suits," and that "Tom also flashed a peek of his chest as he donned an open, spruce satin shirt, which drew attention to a subtle silver chain around his neck."

The Mail pointed out that "Tom was also joined by his diving partner Matty Lee, with whom he achieved the coveted gold medal back in July."

Daley took second place at the awards ceremony, after "Emma Raducanu was crowned the winner after a stunning effort at the US Open where she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament in the Open era," Swimming World Magazine reported.

Daley addressed the event, and "spoke of the importance of inclusivity and accessibility to sport for all people," UK newspaper the Mirror detailed.

As part of that speech, Daley reflected that, as an openly gay man, he would not enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities everywhere in the world as he is afforded in Britain.

"I'm married, I have a kid, to be able to say that I'm a gay man that was able to compete at an Olympic Games, there are so many people around the world that aren't comfortable enough to be able to do that, they need our help," the Olympic champion said.

Daley also recalled what a journey his personal progress has been, saying that his childhood self "had a very, very big dream of what he wanted to achieve," and expressed his regret that his father didn't live to see that dream come true when Daley took the gold last summer at the Tokyo Olympics.

"My dad was my biggest cheerleader," Daley reflected. "After all those years, he never got to see me win an Olympic medal."

In a recent memoir, "Coming Up for Air," Daley, 27, revealed that as a younger man he suffered body dysmorphia and bulimia.

Since proving himself one of the world's top athletes, Daley has gone on to launch a company – Made With Love by Tom Daley – that offers inclusive clothing. He has also won the admiration of a global audience for his knitting skills; indeed, he was spotted knitting even as he was en route to the BBC awards event, the Daily Mail said.