NBC censored gay Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham

By Staff Writer, Outside News Agency • August 26, 2008 - 0:28

Matthew Mitcham (centre) with mother Vivienne and partner Lachlan

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US television network NBC censored the sexuality of Olympic gold medal diver, Matthew Mitcham it has been claimed.

After pulling off a last minute victory against the Chinese in the 10m dive, Mr Mitcham, while hugging his mother and his partner, he told reporters: "I want to thank absolutely everyone who helped; my partner Lachlan and my mum [Vivienne] here to support me and watch me get gold, because it was so important to have those two people here with me.

"I did not think I had a chance to get the gold and to actually get that was mind-blowing! I was crying thinking I had silver. And to get gold! I was a blubbering mess."

Despite intensive coverage by NBC of other Olympic athletes' families, Mr Mitcham's partner received virtually no attention during the network's coverage.

Cyd Zeigler of Outssports said: "It's a big story. The only openly gay male athlete in Beijing pulled off one of the great upsets at the Olympics in a spectacular fashion.

"If he had had cancer, or if his parents had been killed in a car crash when he was 2, or if he had just proposed to his girlfriend, they would have mentioned it. But they never showed him hugging his boyfriend, never mentioned it. They referred to 'personal problems,' but I'm afraid they decided Matthew’s sexuality was off limits. A real shame."

The following interview with Mr Mitcham in which he appears with his mother and partner, did not feature on NBC's Olympic coverage of his historic win.