Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you’re familiar with the man, the myth, the legend that is Tom Daley who stole the hearts of everyone with his unforgettable medal-winning performance in the Olympics. In this memoir, Daley dives deep (excuse the pun) into his professional and personal life and explores the experiences that shaped his mindset and path in life.
Now, I confess, I’m not someone who reads a lot of memoirs so I have not much to compare Coming up for Air with but what I can say is that I didn’t expect the story of someone else to be this engaging.
Much of that can be attributed to Daley’s inviting, no-pretenses writing style. It’s fascinating to learn about the career of a successful Olympian, of course, but even more so it’s riveting to read about the pressure Daley is under—and the pressure he puts on himself. I think when you’re watching the Olympics you sometimes forget that while this is one precise moment of a professional athlete’s life, there’s so much more that you don’t get to see. To get to know what happens behind the scenes and from the point of view of the one doing the competing and winning was an insightful experience. I also liked how we got to discover just how much work, grit and utter perseverance it takes to get to the top—and stay there. The curated selection of iconic photos (and ones the public wasn’t privy to before this memoir) also added another personal touch to the memoir.
Beyond Daley’s career, there are of course other aspects discussed in Coming up for Air. While I don’t want to go too much into detail, I will say that I loved getting insight on other aspects of Tom—from the pressures and troubles of weight management when you’re in the spotlight to Daley discussing how his life has been affected by how the tabloids talk about him being gay and a young parent. Here’s where I felt most connected to Daley because as a member of the LGBTQIAP+ community, it’s always both lovely and sometimes encouraging to hear someone else’s story. Daley also discusses the loss of his father which was heartbreaking to read about but shows you that, hey, that person you see on the screen is someone who faces just the same things you do.
What’s perhaps my favourite part of Daley’s memoir is the feelings it invokes in you while you’re reading – Daley for sure has had his fair share of struggles and it was inspiring and even empowering to watch him turn every hurdle into either an opportunity or, at the very least, into a learning experience from which he could emerge stronger or more confident. I loved that, even for someone as Daley, life isn’t all sunshine and happy moments but the way he approaches life (and its many challenges) made me feel like he would be a good friend to have by your side when things get tough. All in all, I think this memoir will appeal to readers who’ve been long-time fans of Daley or those who just happened to catch his performance in the games in Tokyo.
Charming, insightful and inspiring, Tom Daley’s memoir Coming up for Air is much like its author—one of a kind.
Coming up for Air is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 17th 2022.
Will you be picking up Coming up for Air? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A deeply personal and inspiring memoir from one of the most celebrated and influential names in British sport.
Tom Daley captured the hearts of the nation with his unforgettable medal-winning performance in the London 2012 Olympics. At this year’s Games in Tokyo, he triumphed to win gold and became the most decorated British diver of all time.
In this deeply personal book, Tom explores the experiences that have shaped him and the qualities to which he owes his contentment and success; from the resilience he developed competing at world-class level, to the courage he discovered while reclaiming the narrative around his sexuality, and the perspective that family life has brought him.
Candid and perceptive, Coming Up for Air offers a unique insight into the life and mindset of one our greatest and most-loved athletes.
