Olympic Swimmer Ian Thorpe Comes Out

Swimmer Ian Thorpe won 5 medals at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000.  He has decided to tell the world he is gay and admits to being treated for alcoholism and depression in the past.  It's no wonder he needed to come out.  I wish it wasn't such a big deal for athletes but sadly it is and the more that come out the better.

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Finnish Olympic Swimmer Comes Out

Finnish Olympic Swimmer Ari-Pekka Liukkonen has come out as gay just as the Sochi Olympics are around the corner.  

I wanted to start a broader discussion in connection with Sochi, because it’s sad that the legislation in Russia restricts the human rights of young people and others and I hope the sports world will soon no longer find homosexuality to be any kind of news.

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Diana Nyad Makes History

64 year old lesbian swimmer Diana Nyad became the first person to swim the 110 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.  This was her fifth attempt because previously she had been stung by jelly fish and suffered from hypothermia which caused her to have to stop.  What an incredible accomplishment, totally nuts, but still amazing.

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Olympic Swimmers Pose for Anti-Homophobia Campaign

Florent Manaudou and Frédérick Bousquet were two of France's top athletes during the 2012 Olympics.  They aren't dating but are good friends and were approached by photographer Olivier Ciappa for the project called the picture imaginary couples. To prepare them for the shoot he told them: "You're with the person you love. Not a man, not a woman. Then, at the session, I disappear, for they are one with each other."  I think the picture turned out beautifully.  France legalized gay marriage last April and there has been some horrifying gay bashings.  This photo shoot is in response to all the negative responses.

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