Tom Daley auctions off a pair of his hand-crocheted swimming trunks for £10,000 after announcing retirement from diving following Olympic silver medal win
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Tom Daley auctioned off a pair of his swimming trunks on Sunday for £10,000 after announcing his retirement from diving.
The Olympic medallist, 30, put his hand-crocheted trunks on eBay and and fans immediately flooded to the site.
His passion project received a total of 112 bids and managed to raise a staggering amount of money for charity.
The crochet swimming trunks were made in partnership with drinks brand Malibu and the Royal Life Saving Society UK.
The tiny pair of swimming briefs feature the phrase: 'Don't drink and dive' in white writing and include a Malibu branded label.
Tom Daley has auctioned off a pair of his swimming trunks on Sunday for £10,000 after announcing his retirement from diving
The crochet swimming trunks were made in partnership with drinks brand Malibu and the Royal Life Saving Society UK
Tom took to Instagram to share his campaign with his 4million Instagram followers on Monday - showcasing billboards from around the UK showing off his tiny swimming trunks
The five-time Olympic diver created the limited edition swimming trunks in an effort to raise awareness for alcohol-related deaths in and around water.
All proceeds from the auction went to the Royal Life Saving Society UK which works to improve safety and education around water.
Fans flocked to the auction site to bid on the limited edition crotchet piece with the lucky winner spending a small fortune in order to get their hands on the trunks.
On Monday Tom, who is a keen knitter and even released a practical guide on knitting, took to Instagram to share his campaign with his 4million Instagram followers.
The athlete posted several snaps of his billboard advert from around the UK.
The boards showed a picture of Tom's bottom in a pair of his knitted briefs, showing off the tagline: 'Don't drink and dive', in front of a pool.
He captioned the Instagram post: 'My bum was on billboards all around the UK, in some of the locations where most alcohol-related, accidental drownings happen…
'Remember everyone: #dontdrinkanddive
'@maliburumuk @malibu_rum @rlssuk'
Tom is a keen knitter and was spotted working away on a Paris-themed jumper while watching the diving and has even released a practical guide on knitting (pictured Paris August 2024)
The medal-winner announced his retirement just two weeks after his final competition and he told Vogue: 'It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive'
The diver called time on his career after bursting on to the scene in 2008, aged just 14
Earlier this month the father-of-two took to Brighton beach to model his swimming trunks alongside a giant sign that read '1 in 4' and referenced the number of water-related deaths linked to alcohol.
He said of his campaign: 'I've always loved being in the water, but maybe more than most, I also understand its power and the need to respect it to stay safe.
'I'm proud to be working to get this message out there. Stay safe and 'Don't Drink and Dive'!'
The briefs were made as part of Tom's Made With Love clothing line and it appears his knitting may well may well become a part of his post-diving career, as his capsule collection — of bucket hats, briefs, sliders and sunglasses — are available to buy on his website, with proceeds going to RLSS UK. They are available to buy from £30 to £60.
The diver called time on his career after bursting on to the scene in 2008, aged just 14.
He has since competed in every Olympics and was the UK's flag bearer at the Paris games.
He announced his retirement just two weeks after his final competition and he told Vogue: 'It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive.
Earlier this month the father-of-two took to Brighton beach to model his swimming trunks alongside a giant sign that read '1 in 4' and referenced the number of water-related deaths linked to alcohol
Tom pictured with his husband Dustin Lance Black who he married in 2017 after first meeting in 2013
Tom is now the UK's most decorated diver (pictured during one of his dives at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris)
But I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time to call it a day.
'I've spent my whole life doing this and being able to let go of it is going to be hard. It's going to be a major adjustment.
'I would love for people to remember me for being a person that persevered, who persisted and didn't give up on his dream until he was able to achieve it.
'To currently be Britain's most decorated diver, I feel so incredibly proud. When I look back, I'm really, genuinely satisfied with what I've done.'
