In June 2008, Ian Thorpe revealed he was in love. But the notoriously private champion refused to divulge the identity of his new romantic partner, other than to say the person isn't Australian.
"There is (someone special in my life), but they don't live in this country,'' Thorpe told The Sunday Telegraph.
He described the relationship as a "newbie'' and said it was going well.
Next came the reports that Ian Thorpe was spotted on the beach in Brazil with his "companion, a buffed dark-haired gentleman who is one of the friends".
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, "Manager David Flaskas said Thorpe had spent a month travelling around Brazil after spending Christmas in Australia. As for the man in the picture, Flaskas said he did not know who he was: "I have no idea who it is, but he is with a friend of his family that he is close to and there are a couple of families there - there is a whole group of them."
Fast forward to today, Ian Thorpe's mystery male friend has been unmasked - he is Brazilian swimmer Daniel Mendes and how were they introduced?
According to Thorpe's manager David Flaskas, the men were introduced through Thorpe's former coach Tracey Menzies while Thorpe was training for the 2008 Olympics. The same David Flaskas who had no idea who the mystery friend was.
They have been living together for the last three years.
Tags:
coming out,
Daniel Mendes,
ian thope gay,
ian thorpe
Comments
5 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
Why doesn't Ian just be honest and finally come out? Who is he fooling...? Isn't this the worst kept secret?
At least he has good taste! yummy! heehee
This is a bit ridiculous now. Living together, vacationing together, visiting each other's families--does he realise how it all looks? Please just come out, Thorpey.
The papers are going really crazy about these news publishing articles with an awful lot of innuendo. Hell, you don't have to re-re-read them to realize that! They're blatantly trying to out Thorpey and his "mate" as a couple without saying it directly.
I'm not a fan of outing anybody, in no way. If he's gay, wonderful! If that's the case, he will choose the right moment to come out...If he's not, the press needs to get their facts right, just leave him alone and basta.
But I can't help having a strong feeling that these two are together and Thorpey will come out and admit that they're lovers one day...maybe this year :)
They are such a cute couple xxx
Thorpie, just one advice if you are really hurt because of these rumours and innuendos.
replace daniel mendez with a woman.
make her your flatmate, go out with her to mtv parties, visit her parents place for a month.
just like a normal person. that’s it. all your sponsors and all the people who relies on your image as a sporting legend would be safe.
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