Olympic sponsorships are a fickle beast. Win 8 gold medals and celebrate by putting a bong to your lips and expect Kellogg’s and Subway to drop you like a hot potato. Break a world record and win the gold in diving, while being openly gay and expect your sponsors to– oh wait, you won’t get any sponsors– or such was the case for Australian diver Matthew Mitcham until this weekend, when telecom giant Telstra announced Mitcham would be their new boy.
Mitcham will write a weekly blog, as well as making personal appearances and launching products, which comes as a relief for the diver, since reaching Olympic glory doesn’t come cheap. For his part, Mitcham never blamed his sexuality for his troubles securing a sponsor, telling the Sydney Daily Telegraph:
“I was a little bit worried… so hopefully this will be a snowball effect, but I don’t want to count my chickens,” he said. “If I can get the opportunity where I would be able to train without having to worry about paying the bills, that would be the ultimate goal.”
jason
congrats, matthew!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GranDiva
For the record, I don’t get why Subway would bounce Phelps. Who the hell to they think eats at Subway? For that matter, who do they think works at Subway?
Sports figures as role models for self-empowerment? Dunno that that’s a good choice.
Lexie
Goodness me, it was about bloody time!! What were these sponsors thinking?! Of course he’s a incredibly positive role-model for all Australians and for the youth from around the world – gay, straight or whatever – for being so talented, brave, humble, articulate, smart, persevering and hot as fuck.
Way to go, Matty lad!! I wish you nothing but the best in the future…And kudos to Telstra for being the firsts. Hope other major corporations follow their steps as well.
Am suer there’s more to come your way, mate!!
Sean Scott
There’s been a lot of media coverage of this, yet Matt’s management turned down a sponsorship from AussieBum (underwear & swimwear)! Why?
So it’s not just the sponsors …