Stamp of approval for gay Olympic hero

By Tony Grew • September 9, 2008 - 12:23

Matthew Mitcham won gold in Beijing

7 Comments on Stamp of approval for gay Olympic hero

Australia has immortalised its gold medallists at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on a series of special commemorative stamps.

As in previous Olympic Games, Australia Post produced a sheetlet of 50 cent Gold Medallist stamps to celebrate each gold medal won by an Australian athlete or team within 24 hours of the presentation ceremony.

Among them is Matthew Mitcham, the only out gay male athlete in the Games.

In a shocking upset, the 20-year-old diver took home a gold medal in the 10-metre platform event at the Beijing Olympics last month, beating out the Chinese favourites.

Despite intensive coverage of other gold medallist’s personal lives during the Games, US broadcaster NBC failed to mention Mitcham was gay, or show footage of the diver’s partner cheering him on and congratulating him after the win.

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