Olympic hero Tom Daley reveals he’s suffering from a back problem that could leave him in a wheelchair
OLYMPIC star Tom Daley has revealed he is suffering a crippling back condition after years of rigorous training.
The 22-year-old champion has been told by medics that he could even end up in a wheelchair.
Daley, who scooped bronze at London 2012 and Rio 2016 to add to his two Commonwealth gold medals, has now started a new fitness regime in a bid to stave off the degenerative disc disease.
He has added yoga, pilates and ballet to his daily five-hour training schedule, and is preparing to switch from the 10- metre board to the less physically punishing 3-metre board.
He told the Daily Mail: “We hit the water at 35mph and it takes 1.6 seconds from the top to the bottom.
“You hit the water and pretty much stop straight away so it’s not easy on your body.
“That’s why I’m going to have to train smart between now and Tokyo 2020, making sure I’m doing all the preventative things I need to do like yoga, pilates, ballet and more stretching to make sure I’m in the best shape.
“There’s only a certain amount the human body can take, and the constant twisting and turning can really affect your body. I’ve had all sorts wrong with me.
“I’ve torn my tricep, a degenerative disc and a disc bulge in my back all because of the constant hitting of the water.
“My disc is literally degenerating – it’s impact, impact, impact, but it’s something you just have to learn to deal with. I’ve been told I could [end up in a wheelchair] but I wouldn’t say it scares me because I know what I need to do with my body to stay on top of it. The plan is to get to 2020, and beyond.”
Daley, who took part in his first Olympics aged 14 in Beijing 2008 says he is now in the best shape of his life.
The star, who is engaged to Oscar-winning US screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, 42, follows a clean-eating diet and is in bed by 10pm.
Degenerative disc disease, which despite its name is a condition, not a disease, is where the discs between the vertebrae break down.
It is more usually seen in those over 40 and can be genetic but is found in those who do sports that put stress on the spine.