15 July,2014 08:30 AM IST | | AFP
Swimming giant Ian Thorpe received support and glowing praise yesterday for revealing he is gay in a move advocates believe will help remove the stigma of homophobia in sport
Ian Thorpe. Pic/Getty Images
Sydney: Swimming giant Ian Thorpe received support and glowing praise yesterday for revealing he is gay in a move advocates believe will help remove the stigma of homophobia in sport.
Ian Thorpe. Pic/Getty Images
The five-time Olympic champion made the admission in an interview aired by Australia's Channel Ten on Sunday.
Thorpe's bravery in openly discussing his sexuality was a major talking point with fellow sportspeople, celebrities and commentators speaking up for the global icon.
The New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby said his coming out would have a positive impact, particularly on young people.
"It's a measure of how far we've come that Ian Thorpe is able to come out and I think it's a measure of how far we have to go that it's a news story," the group's Justin Koonin told reporters.
