10/08/2008
Gay Australian Olympian Matthew Mitcham Wins Hall of Fame Award
Matthew Mitcham was named joint winner (with pole vaulter Steve Hooker) of Australia's Don Award, named in honour of cricket playerd Sir Donald Bradman, at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports: "Six of the seven nominees were medallists at the Beijing Games, the odd one out being 2007 MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner. But it was pole vaulter Hooker and diver Mitcham who got the nod from the judges. Hooker, 26, became the first Australian to win an Olympic pole vault title, four times clearing the bar at his third and final attempt before setting a new Games record of 5.96m. It was the first Olympic athletics gold medal by an Australian man since Ralph Doubell won the 800m title in Mexico City 40 years ago. Mitcham prevented a clean sweep by the host nation in diving in Beijing, producing the greatest dive in Olympic history on his final attempt to snatch the 10m platform title away from China's Zhou Lexin."
Said Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand: "There were aspects of both performances that captured people's imagination. Matthew had battled depression in his private life, and gave up the sport. At one stage he was diving into a pool at the Sydney Show to try to earn a dollar. At the Games he had to pull out the finest dive in history under enormous pressure to win the gold medal. It was phenomenal."
Yesterday...
Matthew Mitcham Sad to Be the Only 'Out' Male at the Olympics [tr]
Posted 11:07 AM EST by Andy Towle in Australia, Matthew Mitcham, News, Olympics, Sports | Permalink
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Jesus, he got prettier just by having his picture taken with that pole vaulter guy!! Not to be shallow or anything, but c'mon.
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Oct 8, 2008 11:14:21 AM
Hum...an Australian Carrot Top
Posted by: Matt | Oct 8, 2008 11:35:39 AM
I thought Rocky died at the end of the movie and where is Cher?
Posted by: John M | Oct 8, 2008 11:56:44 AM
An out and proud gay athlete is given a award from an industry known for it's homophobia and all you can do is make fun of the other guy? Seriously?
Posted by: Mike | Oct 8, 2008 12:21:32 PM
Reading the photo caption ("Mitcham and Hooker"), I imagined a very amusing update on traditional wedding invites worthy of Elliot Spitzer.
I LOL'd, as they say.
Posted by: tjc | Oct 8, 2008 1:12:18 PM
Thank you Mike. Congratulations to all the athletes.
Personally speaking, I think the "other guy" is kinda hot (hair notwithstanding). Hooker could vault my pole anytime!
Posted by: soulbrotha | Oct 8, 2008 1:14:19 PM
Mike,
Maybe this industry is trying to change? If they are so homophobic why give it to a gay athlete at all. Anyway, try not to get so worked up about teasing the other guy. It's a hard time in our country and some of us are just trying to have a little humor about things. Best wishes.
Posted by: Matt | Oct 8, 2008 1:16:48 PM
Matt: That's kind of the point of my comment. We should be celebrating the fact that this industry honored Matt...who cares what the other guy looks like?
Posted by: Mike | Oct 8, 2008 1:21:24 PM
Then please, celebrate it. A little joke doesn't hurt.
BTW - Mitcham prefers to be called Matthew, not Matt.
Posted by: Dan B | Oct 8, 2008 1:33:56 PM
Aren't they both pole vaulters?
Tee hee!
Posted by: Frank | Oct 8, 2008 1:39:43 PM
Dan B: But the "Matt" being adressed is "Matt" from the comment section, not Matthew.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 8, 2008 3:49:40 PM
Mitcham and Hooker......lol
Posted by: caelus | Oct 9, 2008 5:53:23 AM
Not to be mean, but that tall pole vaulter looks like a James Bond villain from the Sean Connery era. Just add metal teeth.
Posted by: Jack H. | Oct 9, 2008 9:47:40 PM