Team GB star and reigning Olympic champion forced to miss Paris 2024 after undergoing major surgery
MATTY LEE is out of the Paris Olympics after undergoing spinal surgery.
The Leeds star, 26, will not defend the Olympic 10 metres synchro title he won with Tom Daley in Tokyo three years ago.
Lee revealed details of the operation on Instagram, posting photos of him recovering at a London hospital by the River Thames.
The Yorkshireman has tried to supplement his diving income this year by selling pictures on adult website OnlyFans.
The Commonwealth Games champion said: “A week ago today I went under for a discectomy on my L5/S1 disc in my spine.
“The surgery went well but my surgeon told me my nerve was very stuck and it took longer than expected to remove my bulging disc without damaging my nerve.
“He also told me it wouldn’t have got better on its own so to have the surgery was the right decision.
“A week later I’m doing well, I’m not in much pain but that could be the painkillers doing their job.
“What this means for me this year is self-explanatory, which is very sad, but the reason I look so damn happy in hospital is that I’m not longer in chronic pain.
“We’ve found a solution and I have something to work on.
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“This season so far has been really tough, felt like I’ve been dragging myself through the dirt.
“In a weird way I’ve been put out my misery but it’s also forced me to look after myself and that’s what’s important.”
Since winning gold with Daley in Tokyo, Lee has been partnered with Noah Williams in recent years.
The pair won Commonwealth Games in gold in 2022 alongside a silver medal at the World Aquatics Championships.
Daley is set to defend his gold in Paris, though, and will be amongst the favourites with Williams as his partner.
Williams claimed silver alongside Daley at the World Championships in February.