In tonight’s tell-all interview with Sir Michael Parkinson, Ian Thorpe revealed his homosexuality after years of dismissing the rumours.
Sir Michael told News Corp the interview is one he has been chasing for a long time, explaining, “Ian Thorpe has always been near the top of my list to interview. The reasons are obvious. Not many athletes can claim to be the best of all time. Ian can.”
With 22 world records broken, and five gold, three silver, and one bronze Olympic Games medals received all before the age of 24 (when he retired for the first time), there’s simply no doubting the champion swimmer is an incredible success story. But despite all this, Thorpe has struggled with depression for much of his life and, just this year, was admitted to a rehabilitation facility.
In what was surely a cathartic interview with Sir Michael, Thorpe bravely spoke out about these battles with depression and revealed the truth behind his sexuality:
“I was 16 (when I was first asked about it). I’ve thought about this for a long time. I’m not straight. And this is only something that very recently – in the past two weeks – I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that. I don’t want young people to feel the same way I did. I’ve wanted to for some time. I couldn’t, I didn’t feel as though I could. The problem was I was asked at such a young age about my sexuality. I went to an all-boys school… so if you’re accused of being gay then the first answer is no and you get ready for a fight. I didn’t know at the stage, I was too young. I carried this. I thought that the lie had become so big that I didn’t want people to question my integrity. A little bit of ego comes into this. I didn’t want people to question whether I’d lied about everything. Yes, I lied about it. I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man. My parents told me that they love me and that they support me. Part of me didn’t know if Australia wanted its champion to be gay. But I’m telling the world that I am.”
Aussie celebrities, media, and the public have already been showing their support for Thorpe’s brave admission….
So happy & proud for @IanThorpe Coming Out in his own time on his own terms. Wish you all things good darling boy. It’s fun & free Out here!
— Magda Szubanski (@MagdaSzubanski) July 12, 2014
Ian Thorpe we’re proud of YOU Regardless of sexuality, achievements, medals or anything else… You’re an Aussie who we’ll love & stand by
— 2DayFM Breakfast (@2dayFMbreakfast) July 12, 2014
Can’t imagine any celeb going through the same stress as Ian Thorpe over coming out today. It’s a no-brainer.
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) July 12, 2014
Congrats @IanThorpe! Brave man! Happy for you! Millions appreciate what you’ve done! Proud of you! #SelfLove
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) July 13, 2014
Welcome to freedom @IanThorpe – you have inspired and helped so many by being brave. x
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) July 13, 2014
#IanThorpe you will always be a champion in our eyes. Even more now with your honesty mate.
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) July 13, 2014
I’m sure it must have been incredibly hard for @IanThorpe to come out, but I hope this bring him peace and that everyone respects his choice
— Stephanie Rice (@ItsStephRice) July 12, 2014
Fellow Australia swimmer, Grant Hackett, spoke in support of Thorpe. “He should be remembered as one of our greatest Olympians,” he told the Nine Network, “Not the guy who came out.”
Olympic diving Gold Medallist, Matthew Mitcham, who came out as gay in 2008 at the age of 20, said Ian Thorpe’s admission would inspire others.
“That’s why we need high-profile gay athletes, to prove the stereotype wrong,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald. “Thorpe is about as high profile as it gets. He’s very influential, I think he has the potential to influence a lot of people, and how people react to it.”
Another Australian swimmer, Daniel Kowalski, now 39, didn’t reveal he was gay until six years after he retired.