Matty Lee
{{short description|British diver (born 1998)}}
{{other uses|Matthew Lee (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Matty Lee
{{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
| full_name = Matthew Lee
| image = Matty Lee 2021.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|3|5}}
| birth_place = Leeds, England
| height = 1.77 m{{cite web |url=https://teamengland.org/team-england-athletes/matty-lee |title=Matty Lee |work=Team England }}
| weight = {{convert|70|kg|stlb}}
| website =
| country = Great Britain
England
| sport = Diving
| event = 1 m, 3 m, 10 m, 10 m synchro
| club = Dive London
| coach = Jane Figueiredo
| retired = 2025
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalGold|2020 Tokyo|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalSilver|2017 Budapest|Mixed 10 m synchro}}
{{MedalSilver|2022 Budapest|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalBronze|2019 Gwangju|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2020 Budapest|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalSilver|2018 Glasgow|Mixed 10 m synchro}}
{{MedalSilver|2016 London|Mixed 10 m synchro}}
{{MedalBronze|2016 London|Team event}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Diving Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2017 Kyiv|Mixed 10 m synchro}}
{{MedalBronze|2017 Kyiv|10 m platform}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Games}}
{{MedalGold|2015 Baku|10 m platform}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Junior Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2013 Poznan|3 m springboard}}
{{MedalGold|2012 Graz|3 m springboard}}
{{MedalSilver|2013 Poznan|10 m platform}}
{{MedalBronze|2013 Poznan|1 m springboard}}
{{MedalCompetition|FINA Diving World Cup}}
{{MedalGold|2021 Tokyo|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalCompetition|British Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2018 Plymouth|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalSilver|2018 Plymouth|10 m platform}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}}
{{MedalGold|2022 Birmingham|10 m synchro}}
{{MedalBronze|2022 Birmingham|10 m platform}}
}}
Matthew Lee (born 5 March 1998) is a retired British elite diver and Olympic gold medallist.{{Cite web |title=Matty Lee |url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/matty-lee/6faVo9UiLL9x1fB9QMweZO |access-date=2021-08-03 |website=www.teamgb.com |language=en-gb}} Adept in both individual and synchronised diving, and across both 3-metre springboard and platform, Lee won the gold medal in 10-metre platform at the 2015 European Games, the mixed 10-metre synchronised platform at the 2017 European Diving Championships and has twice been European junior champion on the 3-metre springboard. At world level, Lee won the silver medal in the mixed 10-metre synchronised platform event at the 2017 World Championships, and at the 2019 World Championships, Lee and Tom Daley won bronze in the 10 m synchro event, as well as gold in July 2021 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Early life
Matty Lee was born to Helen and Tim Lee on 5 March 1998 in Leeds.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/matty-lee-girlfriend-itv-im-22273656 |title=Does Matty Lee have a girlfriend? ITV I'm A Celebrity star's net worth and how he remained humble |date=25 November 2021 |work=Birmingham Mail |first=Jack |last=Gevetz }}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/leeds-japan-tokyo-chinese-twitter-b1890506.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/leeds-japan-tokyo-chinese-twitter-b1890506.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Matty Lee's family 'stunned' by his gold as they watch in the garden at home|first=Dave |last=Higgens|date= 26 July 2021 |work=The Independent }} He learned to swim, then took up diving in 2005 at the age of seven.{{cite web |url=https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/news/news-articles/2019/05/interview-with-matty-lee |title=Interview with Matty Lee |date= 10 May 2019|work=Queen Elizabeth Olympic park }}{{cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/swimming-blogs/matty-lees-learnings/ |title=Lee thrives in Olympic environment|date= 20 October 2015 |work=British Swimming }} He was also involved in gymnastics and aikido, but chose to concentrate on diving in 2007. He trained with the City of Leeds Diving Club at the John Charles Centre for Sport. He studied at Carr Manor Community School from 2009 to 2014,{{cite magazine|magazine=At A Glance |issue=426 |date= September 2021|url=https://carrmanor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAG@CMCS_426.pdf |title=Alumni Success |page=11 |publisher=Carr Manor Community School }} and Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College from 2014 to 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.notredamecoll.ac.uk/news/what-matty-did-next-olympic-hopes-for-medal-winning-ex-student |title=What Matty Did Next: Olympic Hopes for Medal-Winning Ex-Student|date=24 July 2019 |work=Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College}}
Career
In 2012, Lee competed at his first European Junior Championships. He won the 3 m Springboard gold and then went to compete at the World Junior Championships later in the season, securing a top result of seventh in the Group B Platform.
In 2013, Lee won medals in all three Group B individual events at his second European Junior Championships, defending his 3 m title and taking silver in 10 m Platform, bronze in 1m Springboard.
In 2014, he debuted as a senior in the World Cup series. He was selected to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but withdrew from the diving squad due to injury.
In 2015, Lee competed at the inaugural 2015 European Games held in Baku. He won gold in 10 m platform beating Russia's Nikita Shleikher.{{Cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1028183/britain-bag-double-baku-2015-european-games-gold-on-final-night-of-diving |title=Britain bag double Baku 2015 European Games gold on final night of diving |date=21 June 2015 |website=Inside the Games |first=Michael |last=Pavitt}}
=2017=
At the 2017 European Diving Championships in Kyiv, Lee won a bronze in the Men's 10-metre platform,{{cite web |url=http://www.swimming.org/diving/matty-lee-wins-fourth-european-medal-10m-bronze/ |title=Matty Lee wins fourth European medal with 10 m bronze |date=19 June 2017 |work=Swimming.org}} and a gold in the mixed 10 m platform synchro with diving partner Lois Toulson.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/diving/40309450 |title=European Diving Championships: Lois Toulson and Matty Lee win Great Britain's third gold |date=16 June 2017 |work=BBC Sport}} The pair then won a silver at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in the 10 m mixed synchro.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/40618056 |title=World Aquatics Championships: Lois Toulson and Matty Lee win diving silver |first=Nick |last=Hope |work=BBC Sport}}
=2018–2019 =
At the 2018 British Diving Championships, Lee and his partner Kyle Kothari (from London) won the 10 m synchro event with a final score of 406.17, a sizeable margin over the second place score of 388.50.{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/diving-news/haslam-powers-3m-title/ |title=Haslam powers to 3 m title |website=British Swimming}} He came second in the men's 10 m platform with a score of 485.60.{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/diving-news/dixon-soars-ten-meter-title/ |title=Dixon soars to ten metre title |website=British Swimming}}
Lee and his partner Lois Toulson won a bronze at the 2018 FINA Diving World Series held in Beijing in the mixed platform synchro.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/diving-news/toulson-and-lee-take-bronze-diving-world-series/ |title=toulson and lee take bronze at diving world series |date=11 March 2018 |work=British Swimming}} At the 2018 European Championships held in Glasgow/Edinburgh, Lee and Toulson won a silver in the mixed 10-metre platform synchro.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/diving-news/lee-and-toulson-land-synchro-silver/ |title=Lee and Toulson land synchro silver |work=British Swimming |date=11 August 2018}}
Starting October 2018, Lee partnered with Tom Daley in the men's synchronised 10-metre platform.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/diving/45934960 |title=Tom Daley & Jack Laugher change diving partners ahead of Tokyo 2020 |first=Nick |last=Hope |work=BBC Sport |date=22 October 2018}}
At the 2019 World Aquatics Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea, Lee and Daley finished in the bronze position in the 10 m synchro.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/diving/48994687 |title=World Aquatics Championships: Tom Daley and Matty Lee win bronze to claim Olympic spot |first=Nick |last=Hope |date=15 July 2019 |work=BBC Sport}}
=2021–2025=
At the 2021 FINA Diving World Cup held in Japan, Lee and Daley won gold in synchronised 10 m platform.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/diving/56956908 |title=Fina World Cup: Tom Daley and Matty Lee win gold in Japan |first=Nick |last=Hope |work=BBC Sport |date=1 May 2021}} The pair also won gold in synchronised 10 m platform at the European Championships held in Budapest.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/diving/57130595 |title=European Diving Championships: Tom Daley and Matthew Lee win synchronised 10 m gold |first=Nick |last=Hope |work=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2021}}
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Lee won Gold alongside Daley in the Men's synchronised 10 m platform event, edging out China's Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen with a total score of 471.81.{{cite news |title=Tokyo Olympics: Tom Daley and Matty Lee win gold in men's synchronised 10 m platform |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57966599 |access-date=26 July 2021}}
Lee was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to diving.{{London Gazette|issue=63571|supp=y|page=N21|date=1 January 2022}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/59828368|title= New Year Honours 2022: Jason Kenny receives a knighthood and Laura Kenny made a dame|date=31 December 2021|work=BBC Sport}}
At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest, Lee partnered with Noah Williams for the first time in an international competition and they won silver in the synchro 10 m platform event.{{cite web |url=https://www.swimming.org/diving/world-diving-championships-2022-day-three/ |title=Lee, Williams and Laugher land GB World Championships silver and bronze|date=28 June 2022 |work=Swimming.org}}
Lee and Williams again partnered at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the synchro 10m platform, where the pair won gold.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/matty-lee-noah-williams-synchro-10m-diving-b2139268.html |title=Matty Lee and injured Noah Williams win Commonwealth gold in synchro 10m platform |date=5 August 2022 |work=The Independent |first=Laurence |last=Ostlere }} In individual events, Lee won a bronze in 10 m platform.{{cite web |url=https://www.swimming.org/diving/commonwealth-games-matty-lee-bronze-medal/|title=Matty Lee 'happy' with Commonwealth bronze after fearing he wouldn't medal |date=7 August 2022 |work=Swimming.org}}
In March 2024, Lee underwent a discectomy on the L5/S1 disc in his spine,{{Cite news |date=2024-03-27 |title=Matty Lee: Team GB diver to miss Paris Olympics after spinal surgery |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/diving/68674316 |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} effectively ruling him out of competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lee announced his retirement from diving in February 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/diving/articles/c0l11k4er46o|title=GB's Olympic champion Lee retires from diving|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=27 February 2025}}
Television
In November 2021, Lee was announced as a contestant on the twenty-first series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.{{Cite web|title= Meet the Campmates of 2021!|url= https://www.itv.com/imacelebrity/articles/meet-the-campmates-of-2021|access-date=15 November 2021 |work=ITV|date=15 November 2021|language=en}}
He finished in fifth place.
Lee appeared on The Chase on 28 August 2022 with Sunetra Sarker, Basil Brush, and David Arnold.{{Cite web|title=The Chase: Celebrity Special: Sunetra Sarker, Matty Lee, David Arnold, Basil Brush (S13EP1 ITV Monday 29 August 2022)|url=https://www.memorabletv.com/episodes/the-chase-celebrity-special-sunetra-sarker-matty-lee-david-arnold-basil-brush-s13ep1-itv-monday-29-august-2022/|access-date=2022-08-28|website=Memorable TV|date=27 August 2022 |language=en-GB }} All four celebrities completed in the Final Chase against Darragh Ennis for £19,000. The team beat Ennis with each celebrity taking £4,750 home for their charities.
References
External links
- {{World Aquatics|name=Matthew Lee}}
- {{British Swimming diver|matty-lee}}
- {{Olympedia}}
- {{Olympics.com profile}}
- {{Team GB}}
- {{Team England|matty-lee}}
- {{2018 Commonwealth Games profile|diving/athlete-profile-n6033445-matthew-lee|Matthew Lee}}
- {{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|55743|Matthew Lee}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Diving Men Synchronized 10 Metre Platform}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Men Synchronized 10 Metre Platform}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Matty}}
Category:Olympic divers for Great Britain
Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain
Category:Olympic medalists in diving
Category:Divers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in diving
Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England
Category:Divers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Category:Divers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:European Games gold medalists for Great Britain
Category:European Games medalists in diving
Category:Divers at the 2015 European Games
Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in diving
Category:Sportspeople from Leeds
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire