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Matthew Mitcham gets ready for Olympics
Mathew Mitcham
20-year-old diver comes out, making him Australia's first openly gay Olympian
"He has used an interview to announce that he is gay and taking his partner to Beijing as his official support"
As a diver Matthew Mitcham is one of Australia's brightest medal hopes for the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer. And in readiness for taking the world stage in China, Matthew has decided the time is right for him to declare his sexuality, making him the first openly gay athlete to represent Australia in the country's history.
Mitcham has had an eventful few years, having suffered from depression and anxiety and retired from the sport. Now, back at the top of his game, he has used an interview in the Sydney Morning Herald to announce that he is gay and taking his partner to Beijing as his official support. He describes his break from the sport as important for him as far as coming to terms with his sexuality was concerned.
"It was a break for me to explore myself," he said in the exclusive interview. "To get familiar with who I really was and to be happy with who I really was. Just being a happier person just radiates out into other areas of your life."
