OK, DNA, what about putting him on the cover? Can that be done? ;-)
posted by zlatorog on 24-Aug-2008 4:15
Aussie Diver Matthew Mitcham, Openly Gay, Wins Gold!
Matty Wins!
Date: 24-Aug-2008
Openly gay Australian diver Matthew Mitcham pulled a stunning upset in the 10 metre platform diving final, winning gold off off favourite Chinese diver Luxin Zhou and his in form team mate Liang Huo.
After a shaky start, Matthew scored an incredible four perfect 10s and his final dive - back 2 and 1/2 sommersault 2 and 1/2 twists dive - was such perfection that it drew gasps from a, naturally, heavily pro-Chinese crowd and scored a massive 12.10 points, the highest scoring dive in the history of the Olympicst Matthew finished with 537.95 points to become Australia's first male Olympic gold medallist in diving since Dick Eve in 1924.
As we've reported in the past Matthew has battled depresion and even retired from the sport just a couple of years ago. He hit the boards again just last year.
Congratulations Matthew from all at DNA!
From the SMH:
His coach Chava Sobrino, who encouraged Mitcham back into the sport, elatedly embraced diver and Mitcham broke down in tears.
It was late 2006 that Mitcham lost passion for diving and suffering depression he quit. During his hiatus from the sport last year to make money he plunged from a tower 14 metres high into a pool of water for crowds at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. That job reignited his passion for the sport.
One person who has been by his side for the entire tumultuous and now brilliant journey is his partner, Lachlan, he was in the crowd last night courtesy of a Johnson & Johnson Olympic sponsorship.
Mitcham is one of only a few "out" gay athletes in Beijing and the first Australian to openly declare his homosexuality going into an Olympics. He's been a cover-boy for gay magazines and featured on the cult gossip website Perezhilton.com accompanied by the tagline: "Yum. Yum. Yum! Can we have a piece of that????".
From the first round the Chinese divers were on song Zhou luxin scored 84.00 and Huo Liang 82.50.
Mitcham's first dive was shaky and not well executed he finished with a poor 73.50 in 9th spot after first round. But the second dive, a back three and 1/2 somersault, rescued his score and boosted him up to second place. He registered four 10s - gave him a score of 97.35 for the back 3 and half somersault.
He continued on consitently, and was in bronze position after round for of five. His fifth dive, an armstand back double somersault, one and half twists, put him in silver.
For his last dive Mitcham needed something brilliant for gold and he found it in his
He smiled broadly as he collected the Olympic gold, triumphantly throwing his hands in the air. Tears fell again when the medal was slipped over his head and around his neck.
Mitcham's final dive was the highest scoring dive in Olympic history and he was stunned. His thoughts?
"I think it's something to beat next time," Mitcham said. "Everything absolutely everything has been for this. I knew it was a far chance but I did everything, absolutely everything I could, to give myself the best chance of doing it. It's actually happened I never thought it would."
First dive and third dive "weren't the best". He kept the faith.
"I knew the best dives would come," Mitcham said.
His rocky road to the top was worth it Mitcham said last night.
"Coming back and doing everything I did was to win an Olympic gold medal. When I was training every single day, twice a day, eleven sessions a week, thirty hours a week before every single dive I said to myself; 'I want to win an Olympic gold'.
"It was all worth it."
After a shaky start, Matthew scored an incredible four perfect 10s and his final dive - back 2 and 1/2 sommersault 2 and 1/2 twists dive - was such perfection that it drew gasps from a, naturally, heavily pro-Chinese crowd and scored a massive 12.10 points, the highest scoring dive in the history of the Olympicst Matthew finished with 537.95 points to become Australia's first male Olympic gold medallist in diving since Dick Eve in 1924.
As we've reported in the past Matthew has battled depresion and even retired from the sport just a couple of years ago. He hit the boards again just last year.
Congratulations Matthew from all at DNA!
From the SMH:
His coach Chava Sobrino, who encouraged Mitcham back into the sport, elatedly embraced diver and Mitcham broke down in tears.
It was late 2006 that Mitcham lost passion for diving and suffering depression he quit. During his hiatus from the sport last year to make money he plunged from a tower 14 metres high into a pool of water for crowds at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. That job reignited his passion for the sport.
One person who has been by his side for the entire tumultuous and now brilliant journey is his partner, Lachlan, he was in the crowd last night courtesy of a Johnson & Johnson Olympic sponsorship.
Mitcham is one of only a few "out" gay athletes in Beijing and the first Australian to openly declare his homosexuality going into an Olympics. He's been a cover-boy for gay magazines and featured on the cult gossip website Perezhilton.com accompanied by the tagline: "Yum. Yum. Yum! Can we have a piece of that????".
From the first round the Chinese divers were on song Zhou luxin scored 84.00 and Huo Liang 82.50.
Mitcham's first dive was shaky and not well executed he finished with a poor 73.50 in 9th spot after first round. But the second dive, a back three and 1/2 somersault, rescued his score and boosted him up to second place. He registered four 10s - gave him a score of 97.35 for the back 3 and half somersault.
He continued on consitently, and was in bronze position after round for of five. His fifth dive, an armstand back double somersault, one and half twists, put him in silver.
For his last dive Mitcham needed something brilliant for gold and he found it in his
He smiled broadly as he collected the Olympic gold, triumphantly throwing his hands in the air. Tears fell again when the medal was slipped over his head and around his neck.
Mitcham's final dive was the highest scoring dive in Olympic history and he was stunned. His thoughts?
"I think it's something to beat next time," Mitcham said. "Everything absolutely everything has been for this. I knew it was a far chance but I did everything, absolutely everything I could, to give myself the best chance of doing it. It's actually happened I never thought it would."
First dive and third dive "weren't the best". He kept the faith.
"I knew the best dives would come," Mitcham said.
His rocky road to the top was worth it Mitcham said last night.
"Coming back and doing everything I did was to win an Olympic gold medal. When I was training every single day, twice a day, eleven sessions a week, thirty hours a week before every single dive I said to myself; 'I want to win an Olympic gold'.
"It was all worth it."
20 comments, 387 views, last reply:27-Aug-2008 14:31
Comments:
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY Team! Good on you Matthew and not for being openly gay - but for winning a bloody Olympic gold medal up against the hottest competition in your sport right now on the planet. Kudos you and enjoy the moment!
posted by todd72 on 24-Aug-2008 5:39
Wow! Congratulations Matthew!
posted by lord_azathoth on 24-Aug-2008 8:21
What a bloody champion! :-)
posted on 24-Aug-2008 8:42
Our Olympic Hero. Congratulations Matt.
posted by terlin on 24-Aug-2008 10:00
Wow! Matthew is my hero now, not just only have the courage to come out, but also win a gold medal in the Olympics. I am so proud of you, Matt!
posted by thonytin on 24-Aug-2008 11:53
You little beauty!!
posted by stevie on 24-Aug-2008 12:39
yayayay! gay or straight, this was a fantastic performance. our men's team haven't had a great olympics, and winning a few medals towards the end (steve hooker in the pole vault, ken wallace in the kayak and now mitcham in the diving) have made this better.
i think it's time for a dna centrefold for mr mitcham!
posted by ckboy on 24-Aug-2008 12:55
Congratulations Matthew from all of us at DNA.
For Matthew fans, there's a pre-Olympics interview and photoshoot in the current issue of DNA (#103, with Will Fennell on the cover), you'll see more of him in our Sexiest Men Alive issue, out next Wednesday, and in coming months.
posted by editor on 24-Aug-2008 14:02
What an awe inspiring effort by Matt.
To just make the Olympics was an amazing effort but that final dive showed his true grit and determination.
All Australians should stand up and applaud a truely fine young athlete.
He is an inspiration to not only the gay community but to all those who have had to deal with adversity and set backs in their lives. He has shown what anyone can achieve with hard work and the right attitude.
It was fantastic to see that his partner Lachlan was there to be part of a memorable moment.
DNA, you should organise a special ticket tape parade for Matt upon his return and ALL Australians should turn out to salute him.
Well done Matt. You have made me very proud to be an Australian. Your achievement has given some meaning to the Olympis Games.
Finally I hope you can now reap the rewards you so justly deserve.
Rod
posted by rotley on 24-Aug-2008 14:48
Congratulations to Matthew Mitcham for winning the Gold!
Thank you, Australia, for producing such a good athlete.
posted by j_s_ph on 24-Aug-2008 18:08
Isn't it nice to have a role model now that's not a Porn Star or Celebrity?
Especially for young Gay Men.
What an inspiration!
Congrats.
posted by metroboy73 on 24-Aug-2008 21:24
I am so proud of him. I am from Colombia, and I was watching the competitions -where a colombian swimmer was also involved- in the middle of a crowd at a non-gay bar, where everybody was going for the Colombian. Nobody around me understood why I was happy when the aussie swimmer won...
His open attitude about his gayness surely will open doors for the next generation of gay athletes.
¡Congratulations!
posted by johncast on 25-Aug-2008 3:03
Watched Mathew dive it was superb,and when he knew he;d won and broke down was great.you aussies should all be proud of him.well done.from England.
posted by petersburgh on 26-Aug-2008 5:15
I watched Mathew dive and it was wonderful and brought back great memories for me as I was a diver and competed in the 88 & 92 Olympics. It was an amazing job Mathew did and afterwards he held himself brilliantly through all the media engagemnets.
What a true champion both in & out of the pool.
posted by SUPERCRAIG on 26-Aug-2008 12:05
dna... i missed the dive do u think u could put it on this site?
posted by carpycarpy on 26-Aug-2008 18:40
actually, tell a lie - we've found them elsewhere and we're posting them all for you tomorrow!
posted by D N A on 26-Aug-2008 19:41
I hope that DNA is going to make Mathew the cover boy for the next issue!!! (Gold Medal and all).
What a magnificent effort and we should all be celebrating our champion :-)
posted by ozboy1968 on 27-Aug-2008 0:04
YAY Matty!! Go! Go! Go!!
I hope DNA is clever enough to realize WE ALL WANT Matty on an upcoming cover!!!!
****Hint Hint****
posted by scorpiogenic on 27-Aug-2008 1:36
"I hope that DNA is going to make Mathew the cover boy for the next issue!!! (Gold Medal and all)."
"I hope DNA is clever enough to realise WE ALL WANT Matty on an upcoming cover!!!!"
I'll second that! ...... Or should that be 'third that'!!!!! :-)
posted by Bunyip on 27-Aug-2008 14:31
