Daley, a winner of four Commonwealth Games gold medals with England and an Olympic gold with Britain in the men's 10 metres synchronised platform at Tokyo 2020, carried the Queen's Baton into the Alexander Stadium during the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony on July 28.

He was accompanied by six activists carrying pride flags, and used the platform to protest against attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community across the Commonwealth.

Daley also spearheaded a BBC documentary entitled Tom Daley: Illegal to Be Me which was released shortly after the end of Birmingham 2022, visiting countries competing at the Games with tough laws on homosexuality.

He additionally released an LGBTQ+ manifesto, and the award sought to honour his bravery in how he used his platform.

Daley reflected on his experience at his home Games in Birmingham.

"It was an incredibly emotional moment," he said.

"But it wasn’t about me, it was about every single LGBTQ+ person around the Commonwealth and the world.

"Even if it made the smallest difference to someone out there, it was worth it.

"Because someone might have seen it and felt a little less alone in the world."

A further six UK Sport PLx award winners were presented at a ceremony in Manchester,

British Curling executive performance director Nigel Holl earned the biggest turnaround or breakthrough in high-performance sport prize after the country's men's team won silver and women's team its first Olympic gold in the sport for 20 years at Beijing 2022.

British Gymnastics performance director of Olympic disciplines Tracy Whittaker-Smith won the coach who has made a special impact award, with British Canoeing canoe slalom team manager Fieke Blackwell earning the same prize for support staff or practitioner.

The British Paralympic Association's appointment of a mental health and wellbeing lead in Amanda Gatherer for the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games earned it the innovation prize, while Commonwealth Games England's work during Birmingham 2022 earned it the collaboration and team working award.

Britiain's Chef de Mission at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Phil Smith was the other winner for spirit of high-performance sport.

UK Sport chair Dame Katherine Grainger commended each of the winners.

"My personal congratulations go to each individual, team and sport who were nominated for or won a PLx award," she said.

"These awards are a brilliant showcase of the power of sport to create extraordinary moments and drive positive change in so many ways.

"As the year draws to a close, I look forward to what’s ahead and I’m sure 2023 will be filled with more inspiring performances both on and off the field of play."