Jack Laugher has revealed why Team GB divers have turned to adult subscription site OnlyFans to fund their Olympic dream.

The Rio 2016 gold medallist and his team-mate Noah Williams – who will partner Tom Daley in Paris - both get paid for posting provocative pictures and videos on the London-based platform.

Laugher has been sharing semi-naked content on OnlyFans since September 2021, while Williams signed up in March 2023.

Matty Lee and Daniel Goodfellow – who have both won Olympic medals partnering Daley – are also on the site, although they are not in Team GB’s squad for Paris 2024.

Laugher is unapologetic about his controversial ‘side hustle’, insisting he needs it to top-up his £28,000-a-year National Lottery funding, and revealing the idea first came from his dad.

‘I have something that people want and I'll happily try and sell that,’ said the 29-year-old when asked by Mail Sport why he was using the platform.

‘My dad was saying to me, “You put stuff out on Instagram for free, but when the product is free, like Instagram is, you are the product”. So now I'm giving people stuff which is very similar to what I post, but it’s for a small subscription fee. It's a really, really good way for me to make some extra cash.

‘I understand the way it's perceived. I understand that people might look at it negatively. But I know what I'm doing and I'm comfortable with what I'm doing.

‘It clearly states on my profile there is no nudity. I'm not trying to make myself out to be something I'm not.

‘I've always liked modelling and I'm about a foot too short to be a proper underwear model, probably about five out of 10 missing on the scale of how good-looking I am as well.

‘But I like to show myself off and that’s what I’m doing. This way I can just make myself a little bit of cash and set myself up for the future a bit better.

‘Just like in most Olympic sports, there isn’t a lot of money in diving. We’ve all just seen Wimbledon and the prize pot for winning that is extraordinary. If you go out in the first round you get more (£60,000) than I make in a whole year as a funded athlete.

‘When I first went on funding, it was £21,000 for the top eight in the world. At the time, as a 16-year-old, I was buzzing with that.

‘But I'm almost 30 now, I'm top three in the world, and it is £28,000 a year, which is obviously a very good salary and it's a very liveable one, but it's not a commonly perceived sporting salary.

‘When I was younger, my dad would say, “If you an Olympic gold medal, that’s worth £1million”. But it’s nowhere near that - and I can tell you that as someone who has got an Olympic gold medal.

‘So yes, I try and make extra money. I'll do anything to hustle for some more money. I've done other side hustles. I have done underwear modelling calendars. Obviously, I've got something people want, and I'll happily cash in on that - I don’t care.’

Laugher, who won Britain’s first ever Olympic diving gold medal when he triumphed with Chris Mears in the synchronised three-metre springboard event in 2016, charges £7.75 a month to subscribers and also makes ‘tips’. The post that has earned him the most in tips - £341 - was a video of him showering in his underwear in April.

The Harrogate-born star has published 570 photos and 54 videos, amassing 134,000 likes since he signed up shortly after the Tokyo Games three years ago, where he claimed his third Olympic medal.

Laugher’s most recent post was on Monday and shows him taking a topless selfie in the mirror with his hand down his pants. He has also published selfies where only a sink is protecting his modesty.

In his last video on July 14, he told fans: ‘I can’t wait to compete at the Olympics. Obviously with the competition coming up, I am going to be less active. I’ve cut back a little bit anyway just leading into these Games.

‘I am really hoping to do my best and then be back on it again afterwards and giving you all what you all want to see. There will be content rolling out which will be pre-recorded and pre-done, so stuff will still be posted every week.’

Laugher’s OnlyFans bio states that his content is ‘SFW’ (safe for work). Those who subscribe to his page get a private message from him, which reads: ‘My page is going to be slightly more liberating than my Instagram. I still have my boundaries which I hope you will respect.’

Williams’ bio also states ‘SWF content’ and encourages fans to ‘support my Olympic journey’. The 24-year-old Commonwealth champion, who will dive with Daley in the 10m synchro on Monday, has posted 134 photos and 129 videos in 14 months, including some where only a towel or a sock is covering up his private parts.

‘I was the first person to do it in our team and there’s now loads of us,’ added Laugher, who is competing in both the 3m individual and synchro events over the next fortnight in Paris.

‘It's actually quite nice to all be on board together, like it's something we do. All of us are in the same position.

‘There's a lot of athletes on this team and some will never make the top three in the world. In Olympic sport, you might never even get to that funding position, so it’s trying make that extra cash.

‘I've had other athletes from other nations message me about it as well and it's just something a bit different. Who doesn't like a bit more money if you can?

‘I saw Nick Kyrgios doing something on it. They're trying as a platform to change the way they're perceived.’

Australian tennis player Kyrgios launched a free-to-access OnlyFans page in December 2023, offering a ‘behind the scenes on the tennis tour’. Most of his videos are of him at tournaments and all are fully clothed.

‘They are revolutionising social media and I wanted to be a part of that,’ said Kyrgios in a statement last year. ‘Athletes can no longer just show up on the court or the field. We have to show up online too. I want to create, produce, direct and own content. That’s the future.’

On Wikipedia, OnlyFans is described as an ‘internet content service used primarily by sex workers who produce pornography.’ But the platform itself says it is an ‘18+ subscription platform empowering creators to own their full potential, monetize their content, and develop authentic connections with their fans’.

Its website adds: ‘We are an inclusive platform, home to a diverse range of content creators.’

Another Paris 2024 athlete using OnlyFans is Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, who finished second at last weekend’s Diamond League meeting in London ahead of Britain’s Molly Caudery.

Former world champion speed skater Elise Christie, who competed for Team GB at three Winter Olympics, is also on the site and said it saved her life after she retired.

A Team GB spokesperson told Mail Sport they have no issues with Laugher and Williams being on OnlyFans and that it is their personal choice.

UK Sport and AquaticsGB were also approached for comment.