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Aussie Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe can finally say: “I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man”
Ian Thorpe is a two-time Olympian and a nine-time Olympic medalist.
He’s also gay.
That is no longer speculation or rumor – he’s confirmed it himself.
It’s hard enough telling the world that you are gay but no doubt even harder after you’ve denied it for years.
In his memoir, This Is Me, published in 2012, Thorpe addressed his depression, which dates to his teens, and denied longstanding rumors that he was gay, writing that he dated only women and hoped to marry and have children.
Here’s some of what he said in an interview that’s just aired with Sir Michael Parkinson: “I’m not straight. And this is only something that very recently, we’re talking in the past two weeks, I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that.”
“What happened was I felt the lie had become so big that I didn’t want people to question my integrity. And, you know, a little bit of ego comes into this. I didn’t want people to question that… have I lied about everything?”
“I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man. And I don’t want young people to feel the same way that I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay.I was concerned about the reaction from my family, my friends. I’m pleased to say that in telling them, and especially my parents, they told me that they love me and they support me. And for young people out there, know that that’s usually what the answer is.”
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Paul says:
Thumbs up! So happy he has at last come to terms with himself. Always loved Ian Thorpe, I’d marry him in a heartbeat : )
John says:
It’s great to see such a wonderful sporting role model (finally) comfortable with his sexuality. His story shows how far we’ve still got to go, and just how much prejudice still exists in the world of professional sports. So great that such a prominent and talented athlete can now inspire many in even more ways than he has done up until this point.
James says:
I’m so happy for him. I wish him all the best.
Michael says:
Good for Ian…..hopefully former California Congressman David Dreier will follow his example….
RichB in PS says:
“It’s great to see such a wonderful sporting role model … comfortable with his sexuality.” Will the entire interview, when and where be shown in US?
RichB in PS says:
Full interview 1-hr 4-min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa1Ux67rD1Q