Tom Daley Made the First Move on Boyfriend Dustin Lance Black: Our Love "Happened So Quickly"

Olympic diver opens up about his relationship with the filmmaker on The Jonathan Ross Show

Tom Daley is happy to talk about his boyfriend Dustin Lance Black—even if he isn't ready to mention him by name during TV interviews just yet. Shortly after E! News exclusively identified the Olympic diver's beau, the athlete decided to discuss their relationship on the U.K.'s Jonathan Ross Show in an episode airing Saturday, Dec. 7.

"I'd never felt like anything like it before," Daley recalled. "We were at a party and I hadn't even spoken to him all night. I didn't know what to do or if he was gay at first." That didn't deter him from pursuing Black, however. "I typed 'call me' in his notes with a smiley face on this phone and the next day he texted. He makes me feel safe and happy," he gushed. "Right now I couldn't be happier."

"I'd never felt the feeling of love. It happened so quickly," he added. "I was completely overwhelmed by it to the point I can't get him out of my head all the time. I've never had it before where I love someone and they love me just as much."

Daley also explained why he's not comfortable mentioning Black by name. "At the moment, I wouldn't like anything to change," he said. "I hope it doesn't get ruined by the media attention. Everyone has been so supportive and I hope it continues that way."

According to Daley, hiding his relationship made him feel "alone and trapped." After confiding in a friend, he decided to make the news public in a heartfelt YouTube confessional.

"I felt like there was something wrong with me. I didn't know other people out there felt that way," he said. "I felt so alone, so locked away, and I couldn't say anything."

"Now that everyone knows, I have nothing to hide," he continued. "Those chains that I felt wrapped around me are gone and I can carry on with my life as normal and be happy."

Though he's currently seeing Black, 39, the Brit, 19, isn't comfortable putting a label on his sexual orientation. "All that I feel happy about at the moment is that I'm dating a guy and couldn't be happier," he explained. "It shouldn't matter who I'm dating and I hope people can be happy for me."

Daley also credited Black with getting him out of a funk following the Summer Games in 2012.

"He saved me from not wanting to dive anymore," Daley revealed. "After the Olympics I was down in the dumps, as it's such a hard way to get back into everything, but he gave me the extra motivation and made me work harder and that is exactly what I need."

Daley is grateful that his news has been so well received. "My life at the moment is perfect," he said.