Matty thinks the world of dad
LEE AIMS BIG DESPITE GRIEF
IT HAS been nine months since Matty Lee lost his father Tim.
His death was sudden and a huge shock to the gold-medal winning Olympian and his family.
The passage of time is supposed to help with bereavement and in a sense it has – but, in another, it has not.
He has dealt with it by putting it in a sealed box. He knows this is not the way to do it but there is a world championship to prioritise – he starts his bid for glory in Japan on Monday – and, beyond that, the Paris Olympics next year.
It is the way it has to be for Lee, who said: “He was a huge part of my diving. He absolutely loved it. When it happened I only took two weeks out of training to go back home to Leeds to be with my mum and brother. They didn’t go back to work for months. That was probably what I needed but I knew I couldn’t because I would have lost my spot on the team.”
He said of his father, above: “I don’t want that and I know my dad wouldn’t have wanted that.
“There will be time in my life to grieve properly but that’s not now. I can hear his voice and I can smell him. I’m sure when the right time comes along in competition and I need to hear him, I’ll hear him.”
He will dive for the 10m synchro medal at the World Aquatics Championships, which will also secure qualification for Paris alongside Noah Williams, but whether they will be the double act for Paris depends on Tom Daley.
The long-time poster boy of British diving, who partnered Lee to gold in Tokyo, has stepped away from the sport but there is still time for a U-turn.
“He’s my best friend so I’m in contact with him every day, but even I don’t know what his plans are,” said Lee.
“I don’t think he has written it off but, at the same time, it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t go because Noah and I are strong contenders.”
Lee, who is supported by the National Lottery, also took time away from the sport after Tokyo to appear on I’m A Celebrity, a diversion he views as a smart one now he is back on the hamster wheel of training and competition.
“It was great to experience the life of being a celebrity on I’m A Celebrity, on quiz shows and on red carpets because being an Olympic athlete isn’t glamorous at all. The training can be brutal and you’re always exhausted.”
The pain and sacrifice is all worth it in the end, though, to be a part of the greatest sporting show on earth.
He said: “The next goal for me is the world champs but the Olympics is in the back of my head. In our gym we have a big poster of the Paris 2024 logo as a reminder every day of what we are training for.”
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