Matthew Mitcham Finally Gets a Sponsor

For all the claims that gays are not regularly subjected to discrimination, the case of Australian gold medalist diver, Matthew Mitcham, tells us otherwise. Mitcham was the sole out athlete at the 2008 games in Beijing. As other Olympic medalists were being quickly snapped up by sponsors, Mitcham, who scored the highest single dive score in Olympic history, went for months with no sponsor. Now, fortunately, he has landed Telstra, Australia's largest telecommunications company, as a sponsorship six months after winning the gold medal. Here are highlights from the Advocate on this story:

*

Gay diver Matthew Mitcham has finally landed a sponsorship six months after winning a gold medal for Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Mitcham has been appointed an ambassador for Telstra, Australia's largest telecommunications company. The Melbourne-based Telstra is the number one provider of phone and broadband service in the nation.

*

[A company spokeswoman said] "Matthew's performance at the Olympics last year was sensational, and he demonstrated all the characteristics that we look for in our ambassadors—confidence, passion, and excellence in his sport. Matthew is a positive role model for all Australians, and we look forward to working with him as his diving career progresses." Mitcham's contract with Telstra lasts until December 31, 2009.

Out and Golden

Sadly, few of the media outlets that have reported on Matthew Mitchum's amazing gold medal win that prevented a total sweep by China have mentioned that he's gay or that he had a partner in the stands. As Out Sports reflected"
*
If he had had cancer, or if his parents had been killed in a car crash when he was 2, or if he had just proposed to his girlfriend, they would have mentioned it. But they never showed him hugging his boyfriend, never mentioned it. They referred to "personal problems," but I'm afraid they decided Matthew's sexuality was off limits. A real shame.
*

But a few did discuss his sexuality - it is after all a part of his story just like the lives of other gold medalist that have their families spotlighted - including the Guardian. Here are some highlights:

*

BEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Matthew Mitcham did two surprising things in Beijing. He scooped a gold medal from the apparently invincible Chinese diving team and told anyone who asked that he is gay. Two years ago the 20-year-old was not even diving. He had retired, burnt out by years of dedication to a gruelling sport, but came back for shot at gold.

*

"Everything, absolutely everything I have done, has been for this," he said. "Now it's happened and I never thought it would." Mitcham broke down in tears after a nearly perfect last dive edged him above the Chinese favourite into top place. It was the eighth and last medal in a sport that the host nation utterly dominates and was expected to sweep.

*

"Matthew Mitcham today was absolutely fantastic and I am so glad that a non-Chinese person won," said young British rival Thomas Daley, after the Australian's win raised the spirits of foreign divers who had seemed doomed to only second-best.

*

He is as fearless in his personal life as he is on the board. Mitcham has been open about his sexuality, the only man among 10,500 Olympic athletes to publicly say he is gay, according to a study by a gay sports website. Many gay athletes fear coming out could bring disapproval from fans and teammates or jeopardise sponsorship deals that are a vital source of funding,

*

Mitcham has said he wants to be known only as a great Australian diver. "Being gay and diving are completely separate parts of my life," he told journalists. "I'm happy with myself the way I am."

Gay Gold Medal

Hurrah!! Matthew Mitcham, Australian Olympic diver and the only out gay man at the Beijing Games won a gold medal for Australia in the men’s 10 metre platform diving in Beijing. The 20-year-old offered an incredible 112.10 final dive to beat the Chinese Luxin Zhou who had lead the competition until that point.

Out, Proud and Ready to Go for Gold

The Sydney Morning Herald has an interview with Matthew Mitcham (pictured below), a diver on the Australia Olympic team who has come out of the closet in advance of the Beijing Games. A medal favorite, Mitcham is the first Australian to go to the Olympics having declared his homosexuality. Would that more top tier atheletes felt that they clould come out without destroying their careers. Sadly, how well one competes is still irrelevant to the closed minded and homophobic. I applaud Mitcham's courage and hope he takes gold in Beijing. Here are some highlights:

*

MATTHEW MITCHAM is brave enough to dive from a 10-metre platform for Olympic gold and courageous enough to do what no Australian athlete has done. When Mitcham balances on the Beijing diving tower this August, like all Australian Olympians, he will be hoping the ones he loves will be there to watch him. The gold medal hopeful's journey has not been easy. Those close to him have seen Mitcham, 20, battle depression, retire in his teenage years after physical and emotional burn-out, then nine months later resume his sport and build himself into the champion he is today. One person who has been by his side for the entire tumultuous journey is his partner, Lachlan.

*

Months out from the Games, Mitcham has taken the courageous step of revealing his sexuality to the media for the first time, in an exclusive interview with the Herald. He has also applied for a grant through a Johnson & Johnson Athlete Family Support Program to have Lachlan near him in Beijing.

*

Those who adore him could be watching Mitcham win gold after his performance just over a week ago in Fort Lauderdale. Mitcham stood 10 metres high with the fierce wind whistling in his ears and battling trying conditions. "When I was whizzing around, the sky is the same colour as the water. I was freaking out. It was the first time I had dived outside since I left the sport." His performance was astonishing. Mitcham beat two top Chinese divers who will challenge him for gold. When he saw his four perfect 10s he whooped and leaped on the pool deck.

*

Mitcham thinks he would not be going to the Olympics if not for the hardship he endured. "I probably wouldn't have as much of a fighting spirit," he said. "The more you have experienced, the more you have to draw off. I look at the last 20 years as a long, winding path of lessons and some hardship.