Tom Daley subjected to Twitter abuse after London Olympics heartbreak
Published Jul 30 2012, 19:20 BST | By Paul Millar
Diving star Tom Daley has been subjected to abuse on Twitter following his Olympics heartbreak earlier today.The British athlete's failure to land a medal in the synchronised diving prompted a hateful backlash from a user on the social networking site.
© PA Images
"After giving it my all...you get idiot's sending me this," Daley wrote, before retweeting the user's most offensive message, which read: "You let your dad down i hope you know that." The 18-year-old's father Robert died of a brain tumour last year.
The user had commented minutes earlier: "hope your crying now you should be why can't you even produce for your country your just a diver anyway a over-hyped pr*ck.
"you really didn't try your best tommy you said you'd do your country proud and you let us all down rather support a tramp tbh."
A hashtag calling for the user to be removed from Twitter soon became a worldwide trend.
© PA Images / Owen Humphreys/POOL Wire/PA Wire
The individual in question later apologised, saying: "I'm sorry mate I just wanted you to win cause it's the olympics I'm just annoyed tom accept my apology"
However, his contrition appeared to be short-lived, as he continued to post a series of vile messages directed at Daley, posting: "why don't you respond to me you pr*ck stop getting me hate alright I've said I'm sorry now f**k off," and: "where are you now you little p***y?"
He went on to write: "i'm going to find you and i'm going to drown you in the pool you cocky tw*t your a nobody people like you make me sick"
Daley and partner Peter Waterfield, who were set for gold after the first few dives, eventually finished in fourth place.
"#gutted so sorry everyone but we tried our best and you can't afford to miss a dive at this standard...bring on individual!" Daley had previously written.
Photo gallery - Olympics 2012 in pictures:
Copyright: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Mo Farah with his two gold medals.
honestly I don't know what that jerk was thinking of mocking Tom just because he didn't win a medal. that really is selfish and stupid.
July 31st 2012 at 7:59pm
Honestly. Where do these people come from? It's easy for him to slate Tom, but I bet he is not capable of what the Olympian could do.
July 31st 2012 at 12:21pm(+1 like)
The only shame from Tom and Pete failing to land a medal is the shame people like this bring to Britain with their stupid comments, proud to be British and proud to have our athletes doing such a fantastic job regardless of whether they made the podium!
July 31st 2012 at 10:37am(+2 likes)
This is hilarious. Just some sad little child abusing an olympian.
July 31st 2012 at 10:34am
Also, good on DS for picking up the later tweets. Most of the outlets end it after the apology, and neglect to include the death threats, because those are an important part of the context
July 31st 2012 at 9:39am(+1 like)