Ian Thorpe Comes Out

[uptheos]

'I'm gay': After years of denials, Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe reveals his sexuality during interview with Michael Parkinson

Australian Olympic swimming legend Ian Thorpe is set to reveal that he is gay in an interview with Sir Michael Parkinson after years of denials and speculation about his sexuality.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that Thorpe, who retired from professional swimming in 2012, will make the full admission during a sit-down, tell-all interview with the British TV personality set to air Sunday night on Australia's Ten Network.

In the lead-up to the highly anticipated interview, a teaser released by the network showed Thorpe being posed the question that has plagued him his entire career - is he, or isn't he, gay?

[Pralaad]

Not really a surprise here when he use to hang out at Stonewall on Oxford street every weekend, with Ricca the worn out tranny hanging off/on his hand.

[David48]

Mate (uptheos) ... thanks for sharing that.

Had it been someone else, I would have been surprised.

But as you allude to, it was always suspected.

Still a sporting hero for me ... he was awesome.

EDITED to add ...

One of the greatest swimmers the world has ever seen.

In his career,

• he won five Olympic gold medals,

• 11 world titles

• and set 13 long-course records and 23 overall.

On November 21 2006 he announced his retirement from swimming after 10 years on the Australian team

Here

Edited July 12, 2014 by David48

[robertthebruce]

Good looking guy....

[onthemoon]

I wonder why the interview (link to Daily Mail in the OP) is blocked by the Thai Ministry of ICT.

[Scott]

One can only speculate as to why they block it.

Apparently Ian is good at more than just swimming. Best of luck to him whether it is in the water, out of the water or out of the closet.

[WitawatWatawit]

I'm somewhat annoyed by all this. Thorpe left in his wake not only a string of rivals, but also a string of young gay admirers who need guidance about whether to come out, and yet got none from him, a major figure on the Australian landscape. Thorpe's homosexuality was Australian sport's worst kept secret. No one doubted he was gay, yet he manufactured this "veil" and maintained it and in the process created a lot of confusion in young, susceptible minds. For sure, he must have been badly advised - we all know that our decisions are shaped by the networks of people around us. But I sincerely doubt in a society like Australia's that anyone - apart from a handful of people - would have really cared had he acknowledged the initial rumours of his gayness. He was an astonishing athlete and his dedication brought him the rewards he deserved. Let's hope this decision to come out brings him serenity to his life.

[Scott]

Different people are going to have different experiences coming to terms with being gay. Even young boys who are straight have confusing feelings about sexual issues. For gays this is multiplied and complicated by discrimination. Most of the references about gays, when your young, are not exactly positive. Historically, sports can be a little on the homophobic side.

The fact that he has now come out of the closet is commendable and he can still be an inspiration to a lot of people.

I am reluctant to judge the path that others take in their journey of self-awareness.

[krisb]

I was sure he came out about this ages ago?

[WitawatWatawit]

"I am reluctant to judge the path that others take in their journey of self-awareness."

A fair comment, Scott. Without knowing the actual circumstances, it does make it difficult - but inquiring minds are always going to ask or speculate. Human nature. It was quite disturbing to read about that episode of him found staggering in the street - it made you wonder about many things, not the least is whether he was under too much pressure to continue to deny his life and had freaked out. But anyway, what's done is done - he won't lose any friends after tonight, of that I'm sure.

[sustento]

I wonder why the interview (link to Daily Mail in the OP) is blocked by the Thai Ministry of ICT.

The Daily Mail regularly gets blocked by the MICT for articles it publishes about 'other things'. I don't think the fact that the article is about gay sportsmen has much to do with it.

[sustento]

I'm somewhat annoyed by all this. Thorpe left in his wake not only a string of rivals, but also a string of young gay admirers who need guidance about whether to come out, and yet got none from him, a major figure on the Australian landscape.

I always get annoyed by people's assumption that because someone is good at something they ought to become a role model to the young. He gained his fame by being a very good swimmer. That doesn't mean he's obliged to offer guidance on being gay to strangers.

[WitawatWatawit]

I'm somewhat annoyed by all this. Thorpe left in his wake not only a string of rivals, but also a string of young gay admirers who need guidance about whether to come out, and yet got none from him, a major figure on the Australian landscape.

I always get annoyed by people's assumption that because someone is good at something they ought to become a role model to the young. He gained his fame by being a very good swimmer. That doesn't mean he's obliged to offer guidance on being gay to strangers.

There's no assumption that people like Thorpe are going to be a role model - it just happens. I'm sure throughout his career, Thorpe was asked to give motivational speeches, which in a sense thrusts him into the position of being a role model - "look at me, you too can be successful like me if you try hard enough!" Young people always look up to their idols.

But of course he's not obliged to offer guidance, and I never intended to suggest that (sorry if you got that impression). But once the rumours started spreading that he was gay, then it was inevitable that a lot of eyes would turn in his direction to see how he handled it. Including young guys struggling with their sexual identity. I am in no way condemning Thorpe, just the circumstances surrounding him. My reference to manufacturing a veil was badly worded. I meant the circumstances that caused the veil to be manufactured.

[sustento]

Although it's easier to come out nowadays than it used to be it's quite a frightening thing to do. Having grown up to see the bigotry that still around you're never quite sure what's going to happen. You really don't know how people are going to react.

We have a gay magazine in the UK called Attitude and every year they do a 'youth issue'. They still have stories of 15 year olds plucking up the courage to tell their parents and finding themselves kicked out on the streets with nowhere to go.

When I came out my Mum was great, my stepfather was an arse and my 'best friend' simply turned around and walked away. I've never seen him since.

[onthemoon]

Although it's easier to come out nowadays than it used to be it's quite a frightening thing to do. Having grown up to see the bigotry that still around you're never quite sure what's going to happen. You really don't know how people are going to react.

We have a gay magazine in the UK called Attitude and every year they do a 'youth issue'. They still have stories of 15 year olds plucking up the courage to tell their parents and finding themselves kicked out on the streets with nowhere to go.

When I came out my Mum was great, my stepfather was an arse and my 'best friend' simply turned around and walked away. I've never seen him since.

Did you know there is a Thai edition of Attitude?

Anyway, I have a feeling that your coming out was in the last century. Things were worse then, but I agree that it is still a big step for people to come out.

I'm a bit of an enfant terrible: When an invitation says "with spouse", I bring my husband. Amazingly in this time and age, this still shocks people. But those who have known me for a long time are having fun watching the ones who are shocked...

This is in Business / Society context, i.e. affairs in suit or tuxedo.

[onthemoon]

I wonder why the interview (link to Daily Mail in the OP) is blocked by the Thai Ministry of ICT.

The Daily Mail regularly gets blocked by the MICT for articles it publishes about 'other things'. I don't think the fact that the article is about gay sportsmen has much to do with it.

Good to hear to this is not a homophobic thing.

If I were in charge of censorship, I would also block the Daily Mail!!!

[onthemoon]

I was sure he came out about this ages ago?

I thought so too. Apparently, it wasn't known to people not in the gay scene that he was gay.

Same as with Ricky Martin. Only the straight world was surprised when he came out.

[sustento]

Although it's easier to come out nowadays than it used to be it's quite a frightening thing to do. Having grown up to see the bigotry that still around you're never quite sure what's going to happen. You really don't know how people are going to react.

We have a gay magazine in the UK called Attitude and every year they do a 'youth issue'. They still have stories of 15 year olds plucking up the courage to tell their parents and finding themselves kicked out on the streets with nowhere to go.

When I came out my Mum was great, my stepfather was an arse and my 'best friend' simply turned around and walked away. I've never seen him since.

Did you know there is a Thai edition of Attitude?

Anyway, I have a feeling that your coming out was in the last century.

Oooooh! You bitch!