Matthew Mitcham surprised and saddened by lack of out athletes
(Getty Images)
Back from a well deserved vacation in Rome with his partner Lachlan Fletcher, Matthew Mitcham attends his first press conference and talks with reporters about how he actually nailed his last dive, his future in diving and shares his thoughts on being the only openly gay male athlete at the Beijing Olympics.
"I was actually very surprised I was the only 'out' male at the Olympic Games."
"It's a little bit sad I think, because statistically there should be a lot more but, you know what, it's each to one's own. I'm not going to pressure anybody else to come out of the closet because it's their own choice. But I'm proud to be there, proud to be that one, that lots of other people can look up to."
Despite fears Mitcham would lose out on potential sponsorship money because he is openly gay, it seems things are looking very good for the 20 year old diver. He has signed with sports manager Dave Flaskas, who also manages Olympic champion and fellow Australian Ian Thorpe. Flaskas is expecting sponsorship dollars to be flowing in quickly, possibly from China. Mitcham is revered by the Chinese despite being the person who stopped their divers from a clean sweep of all the diving events in Beijing.
"The strategy for Matthew will be worked in the same template as it is for Thorpey, Cadel Evans, Leisel [Jones]," Flaskas said. "They all have different challenges, they all have different personalities, it's not going to be a quick grab for deals [but] obviously there is a priority because of the financial situation."
"Money was a huge stress leading into the Olympics for two years and for that to not be a massive burden on me leading into the next Olympics would be nice," said Mitcham. "But that's an ideal world and who knows what's going to happen."
No firm offers have been announced yet but rumors are circulating Australian swimwear manufacturer aussieBum is very interested in talking with Mitcham.
And like the rest of the world who watched his last dive at the Water Cube, Mitcham still can't believe it actually happened.
"Well, I've watched the footage from the Olympics I think two or three times since it happened and I think even I find it pretty exciting," he said. "Like I'm watching it, I know what happens and I know what happens at the end but I'm still rocking there going 'Come on, come on'.
"So, God, how did I produce it at the time? I don't know. It was a lot of talking to myself mentally and not letting myself get carried away with it.
"I had to keep saying to myself over and over again, 'Just enjoy it, you're just here to have fun'. And that really kept the stress levels right down."
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Posted by Sam Vicars on October 7, 2008 in Diving
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my true hero
Posted by: Enrique | October 07, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Why's he sad? Not enough Olympic meat for him to go after? LOL
Posted by: Nik | October 07, 2008 at 07:35 PM
well, thorpey is gay, is he not?
Posted by: petethrntn | October 07, 2008 at 10:20 PM
que ondas un saludo para todos ahl bye bye
Posted by: tono | October 08, 2008 at 05:22 AM
LOL. That's what I'm thinking, Nik.
Anyway, let's do some math on this issue. Not everyone is an athlete. Statistically, about 10% of all populations identify as gay and not all of them are out. So of course there's going to be a "lack" of out athletes. And why do they have to be athletes anyway?!
Posted by: Tony B | October 08, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Well Tony...because most gays are pretty superficial, and the "average looking" person just isn't good enough for them.
Posted by: Nik | October 08, 2008 at 04:40 PM
I think that is great that he is so open, and that he is very cute:). Drop me an email?!
Jsy
Posted by: gessy | October 08, 2008 at 09:19 PM