Ian Thorpe the five time olympic champion has finally admitted to being gay.The 31 year old
Australian revealed this in an interview with Michael Parkinson on Australian television.
He said, "I've thought about this for a long time. I'm not straight." Thorpe had consistently denied
that he was not gay and even as early as 2012 in Thorpe's biography "This is me" he said
he was angry that people questioned his integrity. “The thing that I find hurtful about it is that people are questioning my integrity and what I say,” Thorpe said in his book. “That’s the only
he was angry that people questioned his integrity. “The thing that I find hurtful about it is that people are questioning my integrity and what I say,” Thorpe said in his book. “That’s the only
part I find hurtful, that this is something I would be embarrassed about and that I would hide.”
“For the record, I am not gay and all my sexual experiences have been straight,” Thorpe went on “I’m attracted to women, I love children and aspire to have a family one day … I know what it’s like to grow up and be told what your sexuality is, then realizing that it’s not the full reality. I was accused of being gay before I knew who I was.” Ian Thorpe who is the most successful swimmer ever in Australia,earlier this year suffered from depression and was in rehab.
Clearly full of emotion in the interview, Thorpe said he had only become comfortable in the last fortnight about talking openly to close friends about his sexuality.
"I've wanted to come out for some time but I couldn't, I didn't feel as though I could," Thorpe said.
"What happened was I felt the lie had become so big that I didn't want people to question my integrity."
Thorpe's decision to come out is already getting support as fellow Olympic swimmer Stephanie Ric tweeted "Thorpie is, and always will be, a superstar in my eyes."
Thorpe spoke in the past of "crippling depression", having suicidal thoughts, and drinking too much.It now seems the confusion of his sexuality was the base for the depression that has been trailing him.
Ian Thorpe has dated and had several girl friends in the past.He joins the list of stars such as Olympian Tom Daley,Jason Collins of the NBA and NFL draft pick Michael
Sam who have come out publicly to declare the sexuality as gay.
The 31-year-old gold medalist's interview with Michael Parkinson will air on sunday on Australia's Channel 10.
There had been rumours following Ian Thorpe throughout his career that he was gay.And every time Ian Thorpe denied the gay rumours.
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| Ian Thorpe and Parkinson. |
Ian Thorpe's best moment is for his performance at the 2000 Olympics in his native Australia. Thorpe racked up five medals at those Games, including three golds. The following year, Thorpe also took home six gold medals at the World Championships. His five total Olympic medals are the most in his country’s history.
Ian Thorpe is also well known for his rivalry with fellow great Olympian swimmer,Michael Phelps several times in the early stages of Phelps career. Among their many battles was the so-called “Race of the Century” at the 2004 Olympics, where Phelps, Thorpe, and reigning champion Peter Van den Hoogenband from The Netherlands went head-to-head in the 200M freestyle. Thorpe won his second gold medal of the 2004 Games in that race, with Hoogenband taking the silver and Phelps claiming bronze.
Ian Thorpe made a comeback to competitive swimming in 2011 but failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
It's been a tough year from Ian Thorpe, In February, he checked in to rehab for depression as i mentioned earlier,and just a few months later, he was hospitalized for a serious infection that nearly cost him the use of his left arm.I hope the annoucement that he is gay finally gives him the peace he has been searching for and he can live and enjoy his life as well as all the success he has achieved.You don't need to live your life for anyone or be what they want you to be.You only have one life,Gay or straight,Live it!