SportsNews
World Olympic legend, Ian Thorpe reveals regret about coming out as gay late
World Olympic legend, Ian Thorpe has shared the reason he didn’t want to come out as gay during the height of his swimming career.
The Olympian, 41, who came out in 2014. told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday that he kept his sexuality hidden because he didn’t want any ‘distractions’ from his sporting career in the early 2000s.
‘I had to swim in the Olympics and had to win. I did not want anything to be a distraction for me. I don’t want people talking about this,’ he said.
Ian Thorpe
‘So every time it is alluded you may be gay, you’re thinking of it as a negative thing and as a young person you make it bigger than it needs to be. So I answered no.’
Thorpe then said he regretted concealing his sexuality for so long because it made the process of coming out feel much more confronting.
‘I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man. And I don’t want people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay.’
The five-time Olympic gold medalist came out as gay during an interview with respected English television presenter Sir Michael Parkinson in July 2014.
The athlete later revealed during an episode of This Is Your Life in 2022 that he decided to speak out about his sexuality because he was finally ‘comfortable’.
‘I was always doing this interview with Sir Michael Parkinson. I had just come out to my family and to my very very closest friends,’ Ian told host Melissa Doyle.
‘I had spent some time with [Sir Michael Parkinson] before the interview and told him, “You should ask me if I’m gay because I’m going to tell you I am”.’
Ian continued: ‘I needed to say it. It was the first time I felt I was comfortable enough to put myself out there. It was important for me to be my authentic self.’
At the time, the athlete declared: ‘I’ve thought about this for a long time. I’m not straight. And this is only something that very recently – in the past two weeks – I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that.’
The Sydney native was first asked about his sexuality at 16 years old and said he didn’t know at that stage but ‘was still gay at the end of the day.’
‘Yes, I lied about it. I’m now comfortable saying I’m a gay man.’
He also said he wished he’d come out earlier as his family and friends were supportive of him.
- Kai Havertz’s disallowed goal vs Aston Villa has generated intense discussions online after the late VAR call
- Arsenal faithful thought they had gotten a winner against Unai Emery’s side, only for the VAR to rule it out
- The discussions have revolved around which part of Havertz’s body the ball hit, even as the EPL offered an explanation
Arsenal fans are convinced Kai Havertz’s goal against Aston Villa was wrongly disallowed after new footage emerged.
Havertz thought he had won the game for the Gunners after he deflected Mikel Merino’s shot past Emi Martinez, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to chalk it off.
A big screen at the Emirates shows VAR reviewing Kai Havertz’s goal against Aston Villa. Photo by Glyn Kirk. Source: Getty Images
Why Havertz’s late goal vs Aston Villa was disallowed
Initial replays showed that the ball hit the German’s hand as he attempted to get out of the way. The Premier League immediately explained why the goal was disallowed.
“The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field. The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz’s arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”
This is in line with IFAB’s Section 12, which states,
“It is an offence if a player: 1) scores in the opponents’ goal, directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper and 2) immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.”
New footage of Havertz’s ‘handball’ emerges
However, despite the explanation, a section of Arsenal fans are still convinced the ball didn’t hit Havertz’s arm after a new slow-motion video surfaced.
The ball appears to ricochet against the former Chelsea forward’s stomach before going in.
@EmanDaGoon asked,
“Kai Havertz ‘handball’ in slow motion. Please tell me I’m not going crazy, but where’s the handball?”
@SamColeman said,
“If that ball indeed hit his right hand, the trajectory of the ball will certainly not be up. The same video shows it coming off his midriff. Either way, it’s inconclusive.”
The disallowed goal was another disappointment to Mikel Arteta, who saw his side blow away a two-goal lead and drop points in the title race yet again.
Liverpool vs Arsenal EPL title race
Liverpool had earlier beaten a stubborn Brentford thanks to a Darwin Nunez brace in stoppage time, and Arsenal needed nothing short of a win to maintain the chase at the top.
Leandro Trossard was the star of the show, setting up the two goals for Gabriel Martinelli and Havertz inside the first 55 minutes. Youri Tielemans, however, pulled one back before Watkins scored the equaliser after poor marking inside the Arsenal area.
The stalemate leaves Arsenal six points behind Liverpool, who still have that game in hand.
Reactions to Arsenal draw
TUKO.co.ke has also reported on the reactions of Arsenal fans after they squandered a two-goal lead.
The Gunners dominated most of the game, but two defensive lapses in the second half allowed Emery’s side to get back into it.
SportsNews
Amad Diallo receives rave reviews after inspiring Man United to comeback win over Southampton with hat-trick
- Amad Diallo bagged a 12-minute hat-trick to lead Manchester United to victory against Southampton on Thursday
- The Ivory Coast international helped the Red Devils clinch a vital victory from the jaws of defeat
- Fans lauded the 22-year-old who became the first Man United star to score a hat-trick since Cristiano Ronaldo
Amad Diallo inspired Manchester United to an epic comeback win over Southampton with a sensational 12-minute hat-trick.
The hosts were poor for most of the Premier League contest at Old Trafford, but the Ivorian came in clutch with a performance of the ages.
Amad Diallo has scored important goals for Manchester United this season. Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse. Source: Getty Images
How Amad inspired Man United to victory
Man United went into the match high in confidence after two magnificent performances away against Liverpool and Arsenal.
However, it was another tepid performance at Old Trafford as they allowed their bottom team to dictate the majority of the game.
They conceded from a corner again, with Manuel Ugarte scoring an own goal from a corner. It looked like they were headed for another defeat at home, but Amad had other ideas.
A wondrous 12-minute display from the Ivory Coast international secured a much-needed win for Ruben Amorim’s team.
He scored his first goal in the 82nd minute to level proceedings. He bagged his second thanks to a deft chipped pass from substitute Christian Eriksen.
He capitalised on Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ error to become the first Man United player to score a hat-trick since Cristiano Ronaldo.
The win leaves the Red Devils 12th in the Premier League with 26 points after 21 matches.
What Amad said after Man United hat-trick
At 22 years and 189 days, the Ivorian became the youngest Man United player to score a Premier League hat-trick at Old Trafford.
“Maybe one of the best weeks in my life,” Amad told TNT Sports via MEN. “I am very happy for this win. This team deserved to win this game so I am very happy.”
“In football you have to believe. We believed until the end and are very happy to win this game.”
Amad will need to produce the same performance against Brighton, a much tougher opponent on Sunday.
Amad Diallo is having a great season at Manchester United. Photo by Carl Recine. Source: Getty Images
Reactions to Amad Diallo hat-trick
@Annychizzy:
Hard work, relentless, discipline, determination are some of the words to describe you. You are everything Amad. This is your moment. This is your time.
@_ZDanno:
“Thank you for tonight mate, you proved that you were worth the contract given to you. I can’t wait to see more of this till 2030 and hopefully beyond that.”
@alifnfir:
“What a player, so wonderful performance Amad! Keep the good work. I think u will be the best in the world.”
@CFC_Janty:
“Amad Diallo has a Premier League hat trick before Saka😭.”
@utdbrxy:
“This is YOUR team. Keep letting everyone know.”
@_FaridKhan:
“Ten Hag should be jailed for benching Amad.”
@EzzyUTD:
“Amad Diallo the saviour of Manchester give him the number 7 shirt!!!”
Amad Diallo helps Man United win Manchester derby
TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Amad inspired Man United to an epic win against Manchester City.
He won a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes scored, and then bagged a superb late winner.
Ford driver Mattias Ekstrom was fastest in the penultimate stage of Dakar Rally on Thursday, while Overdrive’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi took a decisive lead over factory Toyota rival Henk Lategan.
In what was the last major test of the 2025 Dakar, competitors had to traverse 275km of dunes through the famous Empty Quarters in Saudi Arabia before halting for the night at Shubayth.
Lategan entered the weather-delayed stage with an advantage of 2m27s in the overall standings, but a tough run for the South African swung the battle in favour of Al-Rajhi, who now looks set to take a maiden victory in the rally-raid.
#200 The Dacia Sandriders Dacia: Nasser Al-Attiyah, Edouard Boulanger
© Autosport.com
Saudi driver Al-Rajhi, Ekstrom and Dacia star Nasser Al-Attiyah were in a league of their own during Stage 11, pulling almost 10 minutes clear of their nearest rivals by the finish line.
Five-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah held the initial advantage in the new-for-2025 Dacia Sandrider, before Ekstrom pulled ahead at the 94km marker in his Ford Raptor.
Al-Rajhi took second in his customer Toyota Hilux and closed the gap to under a minute at around the halfway point, while Al-Attiyah dropped four minutes behind due to unknown reasons.
Al-Attiyah put in a mighty effort in the final part of the day to close the gap back up again, but Ekstrom held on to his position by 41s to take his fifth career stage win in Dakar.
#200 The Dacia Sandriders Dacia: Nasser Al-Attiyah, Edouard Boulanger
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
The result secured back-to-back stage wins for newcomer Ford, with the Swede’s team-mate Nani Roma having triumphed in Stage 10 on Wednesday.
Al-Rajhi had held second place for much of the day, but fell behind a charging Al-Attiyah at the penultimate checkpoint.
However, third was still a solid result for the local favourite, with overnight leader Lategan ending up 10m23s off the lead in fifth, behind the other Ford of Mitch Guthrie Jr.
That means the 43-year-old is back at the front in the general classification, 6m11s clear of Lategan with just 61km to run in the final stage on Friday.
Ekstrom now looks set to finish on the overall podium for the first time in four attempts, having moved 4m16s clear of the chasing Al-Attiyah after Thursday.
Guthrie Jr has cemented fifth in the standings, with Century’s Mathieu Serradori likewise safe in sixth after finishing inside the top 10 on Thursday.
X-raid driver Joao Ferreira remains Mini’s highest-placed rider in the overall standings in eighth, behind Overdrive’s Juan Cruz Yacopini.
Dakar 2025 – Classification after Stage 11 (Top 10)
| Pos | Driver | Car | Time/Gap |
| 1 | Yazeed Al-Rajhi | Toyota | 51h53m36s |
| 2 | Henk Lategan | Toyota | 6m11s |
| 3 | Mattias Ekstrom | Ford | 22m34s |
| 4 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Dacia | 26m50s |
| 5 | Mitch Guthrie Jr | Ford | 59m26s |
| 6 | Mathieu Serradori | Century | 1h10m08s |
| 7 | Juan Cruz Yacopini | Toyota | 1h58m13s |
| 8 | Seth Quintero | Toyota | 2h15m59s |
| 9 | Joao Ferreira | Mini | 2h19m47s |
| 10 | Brian Baragwanath | Century | 2h53m26s |
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