Newspaper coverage of Britain’s bronze medal in synchronised diving in Rio has been criticised after some cropped Daley’s partner out

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The mother of an Olympic bronze medalist has complained that media coverage of her son’s win has been out-of-sync with that of his partner.

Identify the Team GB Olympian by their team-mate – quiz Read more

Thomas Daley and Daniel Goodfellow of Great Britain won bronze in the men’s synchronised 10m platform event on Monday – but Goodfellow has inexplicably been cropped out of some coverage of their win.

The Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express both led with an image of Daley alone, while Goodfellow was identified only as his “synchronised partner” in a subheading in the Times.

The apparent snub was remarked upon by several social media users, including the London-based Media Blog, which has more than 72,000 followers on Twitter.

The Media Blog (@TheMediaTweets) Congrats to Tom Daley (and his synchro partner Dan Goodfellow, who seems to be getting cropped out of the story): pic.twitter.com/DEizCZT14s

Stig Abell (@StigAbell) Great medal for Dan Goodfellow and synchronised partner tonight. pic.twitter.com/S7bXArGDQ3

Rogan Thomson (@roganthomson) Come on papers two people trained hard to win that medal. Poor form #Rio2016 #diving #bronze https://t.co/wHI0vUhcn7

Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) Tuesday's Daily Express back page:

Daley leaves it late#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #diving #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/395mKATxvi

Jeanette Kwakye (@JNETTEKWAKYE) Congratulations are in order - BUT Imagine if your parents named you 'synchronised partner' I'd be so pissed 🙄 pic.twitter.com/D210xzEsVL

Gabby Logan, the British presenter and a former Wales international gymnast, was critical of the Times’ singling out Daley on Twitter.

Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) Come on @thetimes you can do better than this, won't take long to change 'synchronised partner' to Dan Goodfellow. https://t.co/seGtNSBSOU

Alex Kay-Jelski, the sports editor for the Times, responded to Logan’s tweet to say that the change had been made for second edition of the paper.

“A bit of leeway for how close to deadline we are trying to get these Olympic papers out though! #manic”

ALEX KAY-JELSKI (@AlexKJTimes) @GabbyLogan plus I've seen a lot of tv interviews before and after with Tom but a lot fewer with Dan. Do papers deserve different treatment?

Kay-Jelski added that a list of “five things you need to know” about Goodfellow was to run in all editions.

Sharon Goodfellow, the mother of the 19-year-old Olympian following the games with enthusiasm, expressed her disappointment with some of the coverage on Twitter.



She told Nick Sutton, editor of the BBC News website, that she was “very surprised” by the choice of photo on the Telegraph’s front page.

Sharon Goodfellow (@goodfellowshar1) @suttonnick I am very surprised by this photo. Is it for real? I am Dan's mum

In a reply to another user she said she’d “just done her first bit of media bashing”: “How insensitive! I hope they sort before morning.”

She also said she had tweeted a complaint to the Telegraph.

But some reports got her seal of approval as she enthusiastically retweeted mentions of her son.

Sharon Goodfellow (@goodfellowshar1) Lovely photo in the Metro

Goodfellow did not respond to Guardian’s response for comment but told her son to “have a great time enjoying the rest of the Olympics”.



Sharon Goodfellow (@goodfellowshar1) @danngoodfellow Just watched your interview with @clarebalding. Job done. Have a great time enjoying the rest of the Olympics

She later said she had received several hundreds of messages after Dan’s win – “Looks like there will be lots in papers today!” – and retweeted a Twitter moment titled, “The thirst is real for men’s diving and gymnastics”.

Dan Goodfellow gave no sign on social media of being fazed by the front pages, tweeting that the bronze medal was a “dream come true”.



Daniel Goodfellow (@danngoodfellow) Words can't describe how I'm feeling right now ! A dream come true , Olympic bronze medal with @TomDaley1994 :))!! pic.twitter.com/C7ago1Hrfr

Daley had also shared his congratulations.