Openly Gay Athletes

[Theatregirl1122]

But in the US, everyone can name several track stars names. I follow olympic sports more closely than most people and I still couldn't name even a single diver. Ever.

[*Jen*]

Just out of interest: how popular is diving in Australia? Athletes from sports that are on the telly once in four years always have a hard time finding sponsors.

In addition to what's already been said...not that popular. That said, Loudy Wiggins (nee Tourky) won Olympic Bronze, twice I think, and I vaguely recall she also had Telstra as a sponsor, and possibly some cereal?

Matthew Mitcham came out fairly recently, IIRC, well after his Olympic win, so I don't know how much of a factor his sexuality is.

That said, he's the only openly gay male athlete on the Australian team, and I think he is amazingly brave to have come out. It might be okay in society in Australia normally, but there aren't many openly gay athletes at all.

Natalie Cook has been in about 5 Olympics. Not sure if her sexuality has affected her sponsorship, or if beach volleyball is also not that popular in Aus...

[skatingfan5]

I don't think track and field is popular in the US. It is during the Olympics, so if we are ranking popularity of Olympic sports I'd put it up there quite high, but if we are just looking at popular sports- I wouldn't even think to mention it. It isn't something you see on network TV in non-Olympic years. Heck even cable sports networks are more likely to show poker tournaments than track and field.Actually, you do see track & field on network TV in non-Olympic years (but only if you watch them :lol:), as I have seen broadcasts of the world and NCAA championships. :shuffle:

[Skittl1321]

But in the US, everyone can name several track stars names.

I don't think that is true. The only one I knew before the trials wasn't an American. Or else, are just about as out-dated as Greg Louganis.

The thing is- I think most Americans watch Olympic sports. So around Olympics time many athletes in popular Olympic sports will get endorsements. In the other years they probably won't. Track and field is one of the sports that will get endorsements. Diving is also. I doubt I will see athletes from either of those sports in over a year until the next quad picks up. But right now, David Boudia is diving for VISA.

I don't think the US has problems with openly gay celebrities/athletes as far as endorsements go, if they are successful or have an interesting story. But there is clearly something in the culture of sport that makes it difficult to come out. I don't think that is endorsements, I think it has more to do with the closeness and camaraderie of teams. Having no personal experience, this is only a guess. Maybe now that the military has changed sports will follow?

Yes, Louganis lost a ton of endorsements when he came out, but in terms of acceptance that is a truly different time. We think of the 90s like they were yesterday, but if you count the years- they were quite some time ago. The vast majority of Americans, even those that don't support gay marriage, are of the "I don't judge" variety.

[Skittl1321]

Actually, you do see track & field on network TV in non-Olympic years (but only if you watch them :lol:), as I have seen broadcasts of the world and NCAA championships. :shuffle:

Seriously? I don't have cable, so network is all I get- and I'd watch track and field if it was on. I've never seen it on outside of Olympic time. Just a ton of golf, football, basketball, and baseball.

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

I've seen T&F broadcast quite a bit.

Usually it's the world championships or NCAA stuff.

[Tesla]

Yeah and the sprinters get lots of endorsements.

[skatingfan5]

Seriously? I don't have cable, so network is all I get- and I'd watch track and field if it was on. I've never seen it on outside of Olympic time. Just a ton of golf, football, basketball, and baseball.I don't have cable either. I believe that NBC has broadcast it the past few years (probably with more complete coverage through one of its affiliated cable channels).

[allezfred]

Matthew Mitcham came out fairly recently, IIRC, well after his Olympic win, so I don't know how much of a factor his sexuality is.


Err, Mitcham was out when he won. He was the only out male athlete in Beijing.

[*Jen*]

Err, Mitcham was out when he won. He was the only out male athlete in Beijing.

Really? I must be getting old. It didn't seem so long ago :eek: I was sure I read an article about it last year...:shuffle:

Anyway I would have expected him to get a cereal sponsor, at least. Cereals love athletes. Also, am fairly sure our first ever (accidental) winter Olympic medallist, Stephen Bradbury, got a supermarket sponsorship gig. That's really not a popular sport either.

Can't honestly remember though!

[maatTheViking]

Err, Mitcham was out when he won. He was the only out male athlete in Beijing.

Nope, Hans Peter Minderhoud (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Peter_Minderhoud) was out too :). I don't think he and his partner has ever made a grand statement, but they have been partnered/married? a long time.

His partner, Edward Gal, is on the Dutch equestrian team for this Olympics, btw.

[Theatregirl1122]

I don't think that is true. The only one I knew before the trials wasn't an American. Or else, are just about as out-dated as Greg Louganis.

I didn't mean that they could name at least one American star or even one modern star. But I think almost everyone in the US could name Usain Bolt and probably Tyson Gay.




I don't know if it is the closeness of sports teams so much as the "macho" factor. Also, at least in the US, I lot of athletes are quite religious so gay athletes might think they would be more likely to offend their teammates if those teammates were religious.

I'm hoping, that at least in the US, the fight JC Penney put up for Ellen will help athletes feel like their endorsements are not necessarily in danger if they come out and help companies see that bowing to pressure from homophobic jerkwads is not the only solution.

[PeterG]

Huffington Post article has a slideshow with their pictures:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/gay-olympians-london-2012-olympics_n_1710329.html

This is a great slideshow of out lesbians at the Olympics! :cheer2: Wonder if they will do one for out gay men as well?

:P

[milanessa]

But I think almost everyone in the US could name Usain Bolt and probably Tyson Gay.


I think you're wrong there.

[misskarne]

Matthew Mitcham came out fairly recently, IIRC, well after his Olympic win, so I don't know how much of a factor his sexuality is.

He was out for ages before Beijing. In the interviews after he won he was standing there with his mum and his boyfriend and they were having a cuddle and everything.

Although if you're in the United States, you may not have seen that, because the NBC completely edited out any tiniest briefest glimpse of his boyfriend...:rolleyes: