Internet reacts to Olympic champion Ian Thorpe coming out
Following Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe revealing that he is gay, social media has been flooded with broadly-supportive messages.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist, 31, revealed today in an interview with Michael Parkinson that he is gay.
Countless celebrities and well-known figures paid tribute to the star:
Congrats @IanThorpe! Brave man! Happy for you! Millions appreciate what you’ve done! Proud of you! #SelfLove
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) July 13, 2014
Welcome to freedom @IanThorpe – you have inspired and helped so many by being brave. x
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) July 13, 2014
#onyathorpie You have our love & full support! @IanThorpe @AthleteAlly
— Belle Brockhoff (@bellebrockhoff) July 12, 2014
Ian Thorpe’s coming out is fantastic. When we live our OWN lives we shine as beacons and terrify those who profit from darkness. Wonderful.
— Michael Cashman (@mcashmanCBE) July 13, 2014
Well done @IanThorpe. Your life is about to get a whole lot easier
— Evan Davis (@EvanHD) July 12, 2014
.@IanThorpe was, is, always will be one of our greatest Olympians in every way. This candid, honest night w Parky will help many @beyondblue — AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) July 13, 2014
I’m sure it must have been incredibly hard for @IanThorpe to come out, but I hope this bring him peace and that everyone respects his choice
— Stephanie Rice (@ItsStephRice) July 12, 2014
Well done @IanThorpe on your ‘coming out’. Look, mate, it was a brave and right decision. Good luck to you. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2014
Happy Ian Thorpe has come out..sad he felt he had to deny it so vehemently before. — Alice Arnold (@alicearnold1) July 12, 2014
However, some Twitter users inevitably began to tweet homophobic abuse at the swimmer:
Omg Ian Thorpe’s a fag, wow no-one saw that coming. #whogivesafuck
— Josh Hanigan (@Josh_p_h) July 13, 2014
@IanThorpe well done faggot for finally admitt ing your a faggot, faggot!
— Beau Piercy (@PiercyBeau) July 13, 2014
@IanThorpe @Ian_Thorpe get ovr yself..yr just anothr fag thinkg we wana hear yr a fag…. #ianthorpe
— KM (@kmbsk80) July 13, 2014
Meanwhile, others found time for jokes.
So Ian Thorpe is our most successful gay swimmer. Or as I like to say our most successful swimmer.
— Charlie Pickering (@charliepick) July 12, 2014
Ian Thorpe. Great bloke. Wonderful athlete. Not keen on the breast stroke but so WHAT? @IanThorpe
— Neal Collins (@nealcol) July 12, 2014
Then Thorpe himself weighed in:
To Everyone who has sent a message of support I sincerely Thank you! — Ian Thorpe (@IanThorpe) July 13, 2014
