Ian Thorpe's gay revelation earns praise

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

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.

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