Ricky Martin, Gareth Thomas and Matthew
Mitcham are among the celebrities applauding Olympian Ian Thorpe's
decision to come out gay.
“Congrats @IanThorpe!” out singer
Ricky Martin tweeted. “Brave man! Happy for you! Millions
appreciate what you've done! Proud of you! #SelfLove.”
After years of denials, Thorpe,
Australia's most decorated Olympian, acknowledged he's gay, saying he
lied because he “didn't know if Australia wanted its champion to be
gay.”
(Related: Ian
Thorpe comes out gay: “I'm not straight”)
Australian Olympic diver Matthew
Mitcham, who came out before competing at the 2008 Beijing Games,
said he understood Thorpe's reluctance on the issue.
“I can totally understand how
difficult this whole process has been for him,” Mitcham told
Sydney's the Telegraph. “I really hope this process gives
him some peace and that the media and the public give him the same
respect and the same overwhelming support I received in 2008.”
Another Australian Olympian, Stephanie
Rice, echoed the sentiment.
“I'm sure it must have been
incredibly hard for @IanThorpe to come out, but I hope this brings
him peace and that everyone respects his choice,” Rice tweeted.
Retired rugby star Gareth Thomas, who
came out gay in 2009, added: “Never question. Support it. A happy
man today. #Thorpedo.x”