Thorpedo Says Yep, I’m Gay! Aussie Olympic Swimming Legend Ian Thorpe ‘Comes Out’ During TV Interview
Jul. 12 2014, Published 2:24 p.m. ET
Australian Olympic swimming legend Ian Thorpe will reveal that he is gay during a TV interview on Sunday night.
Thorpe, who was dubbed “The Thorpedo” for his amazing feats in the pool, tells British TV host Sir Michael Parkinson that he’s gay on a program on Australia’s Ten Network, according to The Sunday Telegraph.
After years of rumors about his sexuality, the 31-year-old swimmer is asked by Parkinson on the show airing June 13, “You've always said that you're not gay... is all of that true?”
Although viewers of the video teaser aren’t shown the answer, Thorpe looks nervous and The Telegraph reported that he went on to confirm his homosexuality.
When the news went viral, the internet was ablaze with supportive tweets for the athlete, who won five gold, three silver, and one bronze medal at the Olympics.
But it’s taken a long time for Thorpe to tell the truth and join other fellow Olympians who have come out, including famed American diver Greg Louganis and British diver Tom Daley. For years, the Thorpedo denied being gay and once told a magazine he had a romantic relationship with fellow swimmer Amanda Beard.
“I did have a long-term, long-distance relationship (with Beard), and it was great while it lasted. It was sort of public knowledge we were seeing each other, and yet not. It went on for ages, years,” Thorpe claimed.
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But Beard's agent said they were just friends!
Thorpe retired from swimming in 2012 and recently recovered from shoulder surgery that almost cost him his arm.
He will be a commentator for Network Ten covering The Commonwealth Games this month.