Aussie Olympic legend, Ian Thorpe, astounded the world when he disclosed that he almost retired at the young age of 17. In addition to sharing his personal story, Thorpe offers advice to gay players in the Australian Football League (AFL) who are considering coming out. As Australia’s most accomplished Olympic swimmer, with five gold medals to his name, Thorpe reflects on the immense pressure he faced before the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where he was expected to secure gold.
Thorpe opens up about the difficulty of blocking out external noise, despite his previous success as a world champion swimmer since the age of 15. He explains that as a child, his goal was to become an Olympian, but his dream was to be an Olympic champion. This dream, however, seemed unattainable, and Thorpe wasn’t sure if it was even allowed to strive for such an ambitious goal.
He admits that after accomplishing both his goal and dream as a young teenager, he contemplated his next steps. Thorpe briefly considered moving on from the sport, questioning whether he should pursue another area of his life. Contrary to popular belief, the pressure and anxiety were not the primary reasons for his almost-retirement. Thorpe felt there was more to achieve outside of the pool and had already accomplished more than he had ever expected.
Thorpe then delves into his decision to conceal his homosexuality during his swimming career. He explains that fear and the tremendous pressure he was under prevented him from publicly revealing his true identity. At that time, he already had enough on his plate and was apprehensive about adding another burden to his shoulders. However, since his public coming-out in 2014, Thorpe believes things have changed for the better. He feels confident that an openly gay AFL player would be welcomed and supported by both teammates and fans.
Thorpe acknowledges that there may currently be gay players in the AFL who are struggling to come out and offers them words of encouragement. He believes that taking the step to come out will not only benefit the individuals themselves but also provide much-needed support and inspiration to others facing similar challenges. Thorpe emphasizes the importance of visibility and representation, asserting that being able to see someone like yourself in a position of success can make a significant difference.
In conclusion, Ian Thorpe’s journey from contemplating retirement at a young age to embracing his identity as a gay man serves as a source of inspiration to others. His advice to gay AFL players contemplating coming out encourages them to take the leap, assuring them that they will be supported and that their bravery will pave the way for a more inclusive and accepting future.
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