Tom Daley's Family: All About His Husband Dustin Lance Black and Their Kids
The Olympic diver and his husband got married in 2017 and have two sons together
Dustin Lance Black/Instagram
Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black with their kidsTom Daley has a great support system in his family.
The British diver, who recently won his fifth Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is married to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.
The couple started dating in 2013 — the same year Daley came out as bisexual in a YouTube video — and eventually tied the knot in 2017 at Bovey Castle in Devon, England, just outside the athlete's hometown of Plymouth.
Since then, they have started a family together, welcoming two sons via surrogate, Robbie, born in June 2018, and Phoenix, born in March 2023.
Following the 2024 Summer Olympics, Daley announced his retirement from diving. "It’s hard to talk about, it's emotional. But you know, I have to hang it up at some time," he told the BBC, adding, "I want to be with my family."
Here’s everything to know about Daley and Black’s marriage and children.
They first met at a dinner party
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley at GQ London Fashion WeekDaley and Black’s relationship dates back to 2013 when they first met at a dinner party. At the time, Daley had just won his first Olympic medal in the London 2012 Olympics.
In March 2021, Daley celebrated their 8-year anniversary with a carousel of photos of them. "8 years ago we met at a dinner, we lived on opposite sides of the pond and thought it was going to be impossible to make it work ... but we did!” he wrote at the time. "I am so grateful for all the memories, nearly 4 years of marriage and our darling son, Robbie! I love you xxx."
Black shared his own tribute on Instagram, writing, "8 YEARS of adventures, blurry naps, endless nights, sore faces from smiling, laughing, exhaustion from night feeds, baby tears. A family. Thank you for every minute of it, my warrior monkey prince. 🐸❤️🐵."
Tom and Dustin proposed to each other
Speaking with Out magazine, Daley and Black recalled the sweet story behind their engagement. Black explained that he initially planned to propose to Daley during a trip to America, but ended up changing his mind because he wanted the proposal location to be somewhere easier to visit.
“I thought, This isn't what I want my proposal to be, because I want it to be in a place that's more ordinary, a place we can take our kids to one day and say, Hey, that's where your daddy and I got engaged. So we fly back to London, and I'm like, OK, game on, it's my turn,” Black explained — though the proposal continued to be delayed by further obstacles.
Eventually, they returned home where Daley surprised him by popping the question. “I had the ring box in my underwear, and when he came out of the bathroom, I just went down on my knee and proposed,” Daley recalled. “Then he ran off to the bathroom to get his rings, and he had this whole speech prepared, but he's a writer so his was quite extravagant. But looking back, all I can remember is being completely overwhelmed, like, Oh my God, we're now engaged. Who do we have to call? So I called my mom, and he called his stepdad.”
They announced their engagement in the newspaper
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black at BRIT Awards 2023In the wake of their engagement, they announced the news in a traditional way: Their engagement was featured in the Births, Deaths and Marriages column of London newspaper The Times in October 2015.
The announcement read: “The engagement is announced between Tom, son of Robert and Debra Daley of Plymouth, and Lance, son of Jeff Bisch of Philadelphia and Anne Bisch of Lake Providence.”
They got married in a castle
Two years after announcing their engagement, the couple tied the knot on May 6, 2017, at Bovey Castle in Devon, England — located about 30 miles outside of Daley's hometown of Plymouth.
A few days after their nuptials, Daley revealed the news on Instagram, sharing a photo from the ceremony. “On 6th May 2017, I married the love of my life, @dlanceblack ❤️,” he captioned a photo of them walking down the aisle. “We shared the day with 120 of our closest friends and family, from Texarkana to Plymouth! Thank you to everyone who made this weekend the most special weekend of our lives!”
Their firstborn son was named after Tom's late father
Meg Oliphant/Getty
Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black with their sons at a Los Angeles Dodgers game in 2023On June 27, 2018, Daley and Black became parents for the first time, welcoming son Robert “Robbie” Ray, via surrogate. The moniker holds special significance for Daley, as Robert was the first name of his late father, who died in 2011, and it is also Daley's middle name.
That month, the couple gave the first glimpse of their baby boy with a black and white photo of them holding Robbie. “Welcome to the world little Robbie Ray,” Black captioned the post. “Thank you for bringing so much love and light with you. And thank you to those who helped turn our dream of having a family into this wonderful reality. ❤️”
They welcomed their two sons via surrogate
Following the birth of Robbie, the couple welcomed their second child, son Phoenix Rose, on March 28, 2023. Like Robbie, Phoenix was born via surrogate.
During an interview with The Telegraph in September 2018, opened up about their son Robbie being born via surrogate, noting that neither knows which of them is his biological father.
“That’s going to continue forever and ever,” Daley said of speculation regarding which of them bears the stronger resemblance. “But one thing we’re very strongly leaning towards is that we don’t want to know. He's ours.”
“I don’t think we’ll ever hide anything from him, in fact I know we won’t,” Black added. “That’s not just our instincts, that’s listening to the advice from people born of surrogacy. They say, ‘The things that bothered me are the things I wasn’t told. The things I was told don’t bother me.’ ”
Dustin and their sons cheered on Tom at the Olympics
Clive Rose/Getty
Tom Daley's mom, Debbie Daley, Dustin Lance Black and his sons at the Olympic Games Paris 2024Daley won silver at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the men’s synchronized 10-meter platform. For the special event, he had the support of his husband and kids who cheered him on from the stands.
Black sat with Daley's mother and the couple's two sons, who adorably sported "Team Daley" shirts with their father’s face on them. Speaking with BBC Sport, Black opened up about Daley’s special achievement and having his kids there for the honor.
"I’ve seen the amount of work and love that he put into it this time. It was at a different level. And I know it’s cause of these guys and them getting to see him dive today was so special already, just arriving here," Black said.
"And the fact that he just won the one medal he’s never won before. My God, what a day,” he added. “What a day. It’s very moving for family because we see the hard work and dedication that goes into making it look effortless and it’s what he and [diving partner Noah Williams] did today. So we’re so proud.”
Shortly after the Olympics concluded, Daley announced his retirement from the sport.
"I think it's the right time," he told the BBC. "I got to compete in front of my family, my kids and I got to be the flagbearer. Bucket list ticked off on every occasion.”
Their son Robbie is already a natural in the water
Daley and Black might have a little diver on their hands. The Olympian has given several glimpses of his and Black’s family moments, including his son Robbie's interest in swimming.
In September 2020, Daley posted a photo of the father-son pair underwater together, calling Robbie his “little water baby.” Daley continued, "The feeling of being underwater with your son is so MAGICAL! (Especially as his Papa is a bit of a water baby himself 😂)."
A year later, he posted a cute photo of him holding hands with Robbie at the top diving board at the London Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He noted that the height didn’t faze his son at all. "Papa: It's high up here isn't it?! 😬," Daley said, to which his son responded, "A little bit, but not really!"
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