We are now six months past the Olympic Games in Beijing and athletes like Michael Phelps are in no danger of losing any sponsorship even though he’s been photographed in an illegal act (granted, not one I have any problem with). Australia’s Stephanie Rice has been photographed out, drunk, partying hard and still is the darling of the media here in Australia and earning a fortune in endorsements.
On the other hand we have Matthew Mitcham. He’s articulate, more naturally articulate and poised in front of a camera than a lot of the other athletes. He’s gorgeous, ripped and buff, hot as hell and a marketing dream, or so you would think. He’s appeared in press all over the world, soon to feature in the U.S. in Advocate looking fantastic upside down and right side up, on television everywhere
Stephanie is making a lot of money on the back of her 3 gold medals, yet Matthew admittedly with one gold, but the highest scored dive in Olympic history, EVER, is still to land a corporate sponsor. People say homophobia is disappearing. Well, surely this is overwhelming evidence that it’s not. I’m sure Matthew would be happy with even less than a third of Stephanie’s earnings, if we go on gold medal tally.
I know the world’s economy is in trouble, but come on, this is a disgrace.
It is a huge shame that sponsors are ignoring Matthew, Not only is he a great example for GLBT young people about being happy and open about his sexuality but he is also a great example for all young people about focussing on a dream and achieving a goal.
I do also find it amazing that companies such as Aussiebum, that did interview Matthew prior to the olympics have also not come on board and sponsored him.
Maybe the GLBT community should hold a fundraiser for Matthew and help pay for something that would help him keep training for the next competition, I know it would not get anywhere near the deals that Stephanie Rice has enjoyed but it would show him and the community (not just the GLBT community) that this is a young man that should not be ignored.
He was on Kerri-Anne’s morning show and she was saying that she couldn’t understand it. Maybe she could become a bit of a spokesperson if the event ever happened.
Australian swimmers have a much higher profile than the divers. Perhaps a fairer comparison would be with Chantelle Newbery and what ever sponsorships she gained after her 2004 Gold in Athens.
A little hysterical pulling out the old homophobia line… there are many many medalists without sponsors…. it’s not always about being gay…. look beyond the queer media.
This is not just the queer media, even SMH on line is raising the question as why he hasn’t gotten any sponsors. He has also gotten a lot of media publicity. No it hasn’t been about his social life as much as the swimmers but it has been more about his achievements.
It IS a disgrace!
I think a lot more people feel that they can relate to a guy that smokes pot over a guy that smokes cock. It sucks but it’s true.
I wonder what would happen to Phelps’ sponsorships if he was photographed with a dick in his mouth.
As stated from Jack it is not about being gay Perhaps it is about him being open about it There are many still opposed to any sort of gayness it threatens them Dont ask me how perhaps they are scared of catching gayness from us
I agree that it is a shame he has been overlooked because of his sexual preferences but let’s face some truths.
Why are these people deserving of all this money just for playing a sport. In the end we the consumer pay for this sponsorship with higher prices at the cash register.
Maybe if these so called high profile athletes had real jobs during the week instead of partying and depending on their gold medals I and other people would think more highly of them. They make the choice to be an athlete for a career where as the rest of us have to live out a normal existence and work 5+ days a week to survive and live.
It may seem very cynical (I can hear all the yelling and screaming) of me to think this way but how about we all get a fair go in life. Remember back 20+ years ago when most athletes had jobs like the rest of us, they did training a few nights a week. What happened to make us feel that they deserve so much more than the rest of us because they are athletes? Maybe these people should go and work for Kevin Rudd in his spin department; or maybe they already do!!!!!
I was actually watching a bit of news clips from Matthew post-gold. One of the announcers came out and said that it’s a shame that he’s such a personable individual and such a great diver. This was not because he was gay, but because he is in the least (or one of the least) covered areas in the Olympics. They went on to say that the Olympic sponsorship for diving in nearly nonexistent.
So I don’t know if it’s as much of a fact that he’s queer or more a fact that out of all the events he could have picked from, he ultimately picked the wrong one.
How many people can say, “Yeah … when I was (insert age) I won an Olympic gold metal in Beijing summer Olympics, and held the highest scored dive for (x amount) of years!”?
All this being said, he seems like a genuinely nice guy, and I wish him all the luck. Sponsors really should be looking at some of the dillwad athletes and base some of their funds on whether or not they’ll piss on their products, sort to speak.
I’m waiting for somebody to have stared in porn to be in the Olympics. Can you imagine the dynamics? … I just hope it’s not Phelps *squirms uncomfortably at the thought*
I wouldn’t say its a disgrace, divers just don’t get the recognition other sports get. That being said, it’d be nice for this hottie to get a sponsorship given what he has achieved.
j
As a resident of the next Host City of the Winter Olympic Games (Vancouver in 2010), I am saddened but not shocked as to Matthew’s treatment.
I am also concerned that there are not more out athletes in professional and amateur sports; that is out by their own choice.
Personally, I think that it is Matthew’s sport that isn’t getting him the endorsements. It’s like male figure skaters; not many people hear about them except in the Winter Olympics or some stars-on-ice type of thing. The fact that he is very open about his homosexuality isn’t helping things.
Why aren’t the Australian governments (State and Commonwealth) helping his cause? I thought the Australia Labor Party was pro gay?
What Michael Phelps did was silly. I have no problem with using what he did. He has too much pressure on him to be Mr. Clean for it to be possible to last too long.
I do agree with a previous poster; What would have happened had Phelps been photographed at a gay orgy? He’d probably go from instant American hero to unheard entity in a heartbeat!
I wish Matthew and his partner all the best. That is the very least that he deserves.
Has it actually been said he’s not gotten any deals because he’s gay?
Has Matthew said anything: Why can’t I get a Nike endorsement?
Maybe he just has bad management.
If his sexuality, in fact, has been the issue… where can’t I read about it?
I just read the Advocate piece.
So… why aren’t GAY companies approaching him?
Sounds like he doesn’t have time! His training schedule dominates his life!!
Matthew doesn’t seem to be angry about anything. Why is everybody else?
(Sean in Vancouver? Matthew DESERVES the medal. He worked hard for that. He does not DESERVE a product endorsement. Not bring snarky.)
OOPS! Sorry Sean. I screwed up. I didn’t read your entire post!!!
I just saw the words ‘he deserves’ and made a bad BAD assumption!
Forgive me??
Great speedo’s, any idea where i can get a pair??
Yes, JimmyD, I forgive you :-)
Yes we need some comparable medal winners and some comparable sports and we will probalby see that its not a medal win thats worth big sponsorship
Young Mr Phelps has in fact lost his major sponsor. Don’t ask me who they are, I don’t remember. I did hear it on the news though. I find it all a bit draconian to give the guy a hard time over a bit of dope. It is hardly performance enhancing. It’s lucky he remembered to show up, and he did rather well despite having a puff now and then. The guy is amazing.