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Olympics gold medalist: 'Being gay cost me sponsorships'
#1
[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/matthewmitcham2009.jpg[/img2]Matthew Mitcham, the Australian diver who won the ten-metre platform gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, has said he believes he lost sponsorship deals due to being openly gay.

According to the Daily Telegraph, he said: "I haven't experienced any homophobia in sport but I'm hoping I'm not experiencing any in the corporate world because I haven't had any companies rushing to sponsor me," he said.

"It took me a very long time to secure any form of sponsorship after the Olympics, and that's still my only sponsorship."

Mitcham, 20, beat 14-year-old Brit Tom Daley to make history by receiving the highest mark for an individual dive at an Olympic Games.

He came out in a newspaper interview shortly before the Games began and has since become something of a gay role model.

When asked how he felt on the responsibility, he said: "As soon as anybody looks up to you, you automatically become a role model whether you choose to be or not, and you can either embrace it or not.

"I choose to embrace it and try to be the best role model I can be."

Mitcham was previously a trampolining champion before being spotted by a coach at a pool who thought he had potential to succeed at diving.

He battled depression and anxiety, taking a year-long break before returning to the sport to claim gold.

In February, he was named as one of three new ambassadors for the Australian government’s men’s health policy.
Note: No trees were destroyed in the sending of this contaminant free message. However, I do concede, a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced.
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#2
I think it's sad that he has to question his source of funding for his athletic perfection in our society
Richard
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#3
[COLOR="Purple"]I read a long interview with the young man in Out magazine... It has been a while since reading the article but one point I remember...

This young man has only won that one gold medal and only in diving. Diving is, unfortunately, not the BIG swimming event that brings in the sponsorships.

Greg Louganis won a couple more golds but didnt come out till after the wins.

Not sure if you are saying that Mitcham is worried about his budget for training - Richard... but according to the article "Much of Mitcham's training and competitive travel is underwritten by federal and state funding".[/COLOR]
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