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But he is using his platform and his knitwear for much more. Rather than letting the cardigans, sweaters and hats gather dust in a closet, Daley regularly raffles off pieces he makes and donates proceeds to the Brain Tumour Charity in memory of his father, Rob Daley, who died of brain cancer in 2011.ĭaley made his Olympic debut when he was 14, at the 2008 Games, in Beijing. Photograph: Clive Rose/Gettyĭaley's Olympic knitting certainly has brought even more attention to the crafts. And craft communities can serve as a needed social connection in our lives, especially in difficult times.ĭaley in the men’s 10m platform diving preliminary in Tokyo this summer. In a 2013 paper published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, crafters reported feeling happier and calmer. The repeated motions involved in crafts are meditative and require focus on the task, which can help crafters find a healthy distraction from stress. Some studies suggest that knitting, crochet and other crafts can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and loneliness.
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Because their jobs push their bodies to the limit, many Olympians have sought out restorative practices, like spending time with loved ones, writing and going to therapy. The 2021 Olympics were a watershed moment for athletes speaking out about mental health and choosing, in some cases, to prioritise their wellbeing over competition. Knitting became not just a downtime diversion for Daley but a way to manage his anxiety. “I was very grateful to have my little cardigan project to give me that little bit of a healthy distraction and at the same time find calm and peace,” he says. Pandemic safety measures kept the Olympians isolated, which gave them ample time to overthink every little movement.
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Once in Tokyo, Daley’s new hobby became even more essential. Photograph: Amber Bracken/The New York Times Lockdown and the delayed Olympics gave Daley more time to bond with his young son, Robbie (whose toys are pictured here), and his husband, Dustin Lance Black. His crafting Instagram, features his own creations as well as those made following popular patterns and kits from companies like Wool and the Gang and We Are Knitters. “I was completely obsessed with it.”Īfter mastering the basic knit and purl stitches, Daley conquered the more complicated colourwork knitting techniques and last August added crochet to his craft repertoire. But after lots of practice and consultations with other divers and coaches about their own dabbling in fibre arts, Daley found his footing. “Each new project I started, I wanted to learn a new stitch or a new skill,” Daley says. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP via GettyĪt his husband’s suggestion, Daley started watching introductory knitting videos on YouTube while travelling for a competition in Canada. “At first, I was actually terrible at it,” he says.īeginning knitters and crocheters know just how difficult it is to pick up foundational techniques for the crafts from videos alone. But he also yearned for a new challenge – something he could take on in his downtime.ĭaley knitting in the stands at the Tokyo Olympics. The time at home meant he could bond with his young son, Robbie, with his husband, Dustin Lance Black. Spin classes, runs and team workouts on Zoom became the norm. His sofa cushions became a crash mat for practising somersaults and the gymnastics that make diving mesmerising to watch.