Olympic diver Tom Daley has revealed he is in a gay relationship.
The 19-year-old revealed he has been dating a man since the spring in a video posted on YouTube on Monday morning, although he insists he "still fancies girls".
Daley won the bronze medal in the men's 10 metre platform competition at the London 2012 Olympics, just over one year after the death of his father Robert from cancer.
"Most of you are probably wondering why I am doing this video," Daley said. "My life's been a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least, over the last couple of years. Losing my dad to cancer in 2011 was one of the hardest things I've ever had to deal with in my life. Winning an Olympic medal last year in 2012 in front of a home crowd finishing my A-levels this year, it's been hectic.
"One thing I consider to be important is to have some form of private life. Honesty is something I do believe in. I may have been vague in some of my answers but one thing I've never felt that comfortable about are my relationships.
"I've been dating girls and never had a serious relationship to talk about and now I feel ready to talk about relationships this year."
"Come spring this year, my life changed massively. I met someone and they make me feel so happy, so safe, and everything just feels great. And that someone is a guy.
"It did take me by surprise a little bit. It was always in the back of my head something like that could happen. Something just clicked. It felt right. My whole world just changed right there and then.
"I still fancy girls but I'm dating a guy and I couldn't be happier. It just really does feel right.
"People are going to have their own opinions and I think people are going to make a big deal over this. Is it a big deal? I don't think so. I wanted to say something and I wanted to do it.
"My dad always said to me, as long as you're happy then I'm happy. And right now, I couldn't be happier. My mum's been so supportive as well and I can count the number of people I've told on my hand, and those friends and family have been so supportive.
Daley addressed his fans in a message posted on YouTube
"I told the rest of my family today and, let's just say, they had mixed opinions. Some didn't believe it, lots of them wanted me to keep it quiet, some said why don't you just do a statement or a magazine cover or a TV interview. But I didn't want to get my words twisted.
"I wanted to put an end to all the rumours and speculation. My friends and family are always there to support me. I'm still Tom, I still want to win an Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016 for Great Britain."
Tom Daley
Former Olympic diver Greg Louganis came out as gay during his career and recently married his partner Johnny Chaillot.
Daley is the latest high-profile sports person to speak about their sexuality in public, following the likes of former Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas and former Leeds footballer Robbie Rogers.
Olympic boxing gold medallist Nicola Adams topped the Independent's annual 'Pink List' poll of influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in November 2012.
Australian diver Matthew Mitcham announced he was gay in 2008 shortly before he won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, and four-time Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis also revealed he was gay following his retirement in 1995.