CBB’s Daley Thompson infamously mocked opponent with ‘gay’ t-shirt at 1984 Olympics

Former Olympic champion Daley Thompson has entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, alongside LGBTQ+ singer JoJo Siwa, Mickey Rourke and Drag Race star Danny Beard, causing an old controversy about fellow athlete Carl Lewis to resurface.

Daley Thompson broke the news that he would be taking part, on Instagram on Monday (7 April), joking that he was a “grumpy father” with a “heart of gold”. He was looking forward to a “bumpy but very happy ride”.

Thompson has already locked horns with Danny Beard in an uncomfortable incident on Tuesday (8 April). The drag star told actress Donna Preston that they thought Mickey Rourke was selecting them for a secret task, which prompted Thompson to snap at Danny Beard, saying: “Not everything is about you”.

So, just who exactly is Daley Thompson and what has he said about members of the LGBTQ+ community?

The rumours are true! 🥇 Double Olympic Decathlon champion Daley Thompson has officially entered the @bbuk house. 👏

Thanks so much for all your support so far – we can’t wait to see what he brings to the house💪 #HeartOfGold #TeamDaley #CBB pic.twitter.com/yGWYDXHo5j

— Daley Thompson (@Daley_thompson) April 7, 2025

Thompson won gold medals in the decathlon at the Games in 1980 and 1984. The holder of four world records, he went unbeaten for nine years and is considered by some to be the greatest athlete of all time. He was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1982, and was appointed MBE in 1983, then CBE in 2000.

Now 66, he retired in 1992.

However, his career was not without controversy, having seemingly mocking a fellow Olympian with a t-shirt that read: “Is the world’s second-best athlete gay”, at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

It was thought to be directed at US sprinter Carl Lewis, who was subjected to rumours about his sexuality at the time, although he has never spoken about it. Thompson denied this, saying it “could be anybody, Carl Lewis, anybody”.

Daley Thompson’s stance on trans athletes and JK Rowling support

Thompson has expressed opposition to trans athletes taking part in sport, claiming in the Daily Mail in 2023 that if they are allowed to compete in women’s sports, then women’s sport “is finished”.

He wrote: “Like any decent human being, I fully support the right of everyone to present however they want, use the name and pronouns they feel reflect their true selves and live their lives as they wish.” But he continued by expressing his opposition to trans women in female sports.

“Competing in the decathlon, I’ve seen performances by some inspirational women,” he said. “But the truth is, no matter how hard they trained, they could never have matched my times (other than the 1,500m, where some women could beat me).

“My physique was too different, too male. It would have been grossly unfair for me to compete against them. My victory would have been a travesty.”

He is a friend of legendary tennis star Martina Navratilova and former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, with whom he had a brief relationship. Both have voiced their opposition to trans women taking part in sports.

Thompson has also defended author JK Rowling, who is known for her outspoken views about transgender people, claiming she has “spoken nothing but calm common sense”.

In October 2024, JK Rowling took aim at trans broadcaster India Willoughby, and Thompson replied: “JK, if I may be so familiar, I do wonder why you give them the oxygen they are so desperate for but I am so so glad you do. It’s a kick in the balls every time.”