Diving Champ Tom Daley Headed to Japan for Exhibition of His Knitting Work

British diving champ Tom Daley is headed back to Tokyo (where he won the gold in the 2021 Olympics) for a much different event: "his first knitted art exhibition, at Parco Museum Tokyo in the Japanese capital's Shibuya district," UK newspaper The Guardian reported.

"The event, that runs for 18 days from 8-25 November and with Daley in attendance on the opening day to give a live knitting workshop, will include personally selected pieces under the theme Made With Love – also the name given to his range of yarns and an Instagram account that has traced his second career in wool since it began a year before the Tokyo Olympics," the newspaper noted.

Noting that Japan is "the only G7 nation that still does not allow" marriage equality, the LGBTQ+ athletics site Outsports pointed out that Daley's "passion for crocheting has inspired thousands to pick up a pair of needles..." That passion commanded global attention when a snap of Daley knitting away at the 2021 Olympics – delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic – became a viral sensation.

Looking back on that image, Daley told the Guardian, "I think some people thought I didn't care about the Olympics, that I was just knitting. Some people thought it was brave to be knitting in public, and some thought: 'What the hell is he doing?'"

What he was doing, the article noted, was fending off boredom and staying mentally focused by immersing himself in his craft.

Daley recalled that "when I was photographed I didn't really think about it because there was no one in the stands in Tokyo."

But that one photo helped propel Daley into a new business venture and brought attention to knitting to many who may never have considered it before.

Daley, too, has found his way to new places (and cheeky knit pieces) with the skill. "It's the first time I've done anything like this," Daley told the newspaper of the exhibit, "and I feel like it's really fitting to do it in Japan and Tokyo, which is where the fascination with my knitting began."

"The Tokyo event will also be an opportunity for Daley to continue his campaign for the rights of LGBTQ+ people," the Guardian noted.

"The most important thing is that LGBTQ+ people can be visible in countries where the laws are against them," Daley mused. "The more powerful thing is to be able to go to a country that's hosting a sporting event and just being you and succeeding and doing well."

"It's such a powerful and strong message and sends a message of hope," the champion athlete added. "I think all we can do as LGBTQ+ people is to be visible, to be out there and be ourselves. That in itself is a form of activism. And everyone can get involved in that."

Have a look at some of the posts Daley has put up on his Instagram accounts.