Exclusive Interview: Catching up with Matthew Mitcham

Mitcham’s schedule doesn’t allow for much free time, but he does love music and enjoys reading. “The last two books I read were The Virgin Suicides. It sounds really morbid but it's not. Currently, I'm reading a book called The Host by Stephanie Meyer who wrote the Twilight series. That's really good as well. I listen to music all the time because I spend so many hours in transit going to and from training. And I listen to music while watching competition to either get myself pumped up or calm myself down a bit.”

Australia doesn’t currently recognize same-sex marriage, so Mitcham and Lachlan aren’t married. Asked his opinion about the issue, Mitcham says:

I'm not really into politics. I don't like to have opinions on things I'm not totally educated on. I know a lot of couples who would like to be married, and I wish that they could, whether they want to get married or if they're happy with a civil partnership where all their rights as a couple are recognized. There's nothing I can say that will influence that kind of thing in our country, but it's great that there are people trying. I hope that people who do want to get married or want their relationship legally recognized are able to do so.

A year after shooting to worldwide fame, Mitcham isn’t just training for his next diving competition, but is also studying science at Sydney University. However, due to his busy schedule of training, competing and doing publicity, he has yet to set foot on the SU campus.

“I've been doing my first six weeks of study online because I've been overseas so much. I'm going to meet with the university today just to make sure I can postpone my dorm life because of events and stuff. They're being really, really accommodating because of who I am and the level of work I'm at. They've been exceptional. I suppose it's one of the pros of being an Olympic gold medalist. [laughs]

Mitcham's gold medal dive earned the highest score in Olympic diving history

With his gold medal winning dive at the Beijing Olympics, Mitcham was catapulted to a level of fame few people ever achieve, much less active divers and much much less out gay ones (keep in mind, Greg Louganis came out after he retired). Surely, there must be a downside to being such a public figure.

Not to hear Mitcham tell it.

When asked what the best and worst part of the past twelve months has been, he answers “I don't know. I could never complain about anything, so there is no real worst part. That would make me seem ungrateful. I have to be very grateful for everything that has come since the gold medal, and really that's the best part.”

As one of the most recognizable gay men in the world, does Mitcham feel much in the way of pressure to “represent” the gay community? “It's cool that many gay people are getting involved and interested and following my sport, because of what I did. That's a good thing. I don't really feel pressure. I do feel a bit of expectation — not particularly from the gay community — but there is a bit of pressure of expectation because of what I did. I'm just going to do everything to the best of my ability.”

Mitcham at Sydney's gay Mardi Gras

Amazingly, Mitcham also sounds as if he feels bad for not doing enough for the gay community, this despite being one of the few out male athletes competing at his level of sports.

I'm doing everything I can to give back to the community for what they've done to support me, especially in Sydney [Mitcham was named Grand Marshall at this year’s Mardi Gras parade], but that's all I can do at the moment. Hopefully, when I have the opportunity, when I have more resources available to me, I'll be able to give back a bit more, because I do feel indebted because of how much the gay community has supported me.