For those of you who watched the Olympics last night, you saw one of the great upsets - Australian Matthew Mitcham winning the gold medal in the men's 10 metre platform. He won on his last dive, defeating the favored Chinese contestant, and preventing the host nation from sweeping all 8 metals in diving.
It was an emotional moment - Mitcham collapsed in tears when he realized he had won.
But in an Olympics where personal struggle and biographical background was a rule, NBC made a decision to not tell Mitcham's history-making detail. And their decision is shameful.
Matthew Mitcham is one the first out gay athletes, and probably the highest-profile one, ever to win a gold medal.
Already a major figure in Australia - Olympic swimmers in that country rank with NBA players in the US - his personal story was huge news there this spring (fall in Australia) when he came out.
He was on the cover of the Advocate here in the US a few weeks ago.
The story in the Sydney Morning Herald - the biggest paper in the country - called him a gay icon in its lede.
From teenage retirement to Royal Easter Show high-diver to gay icon to gold Olympic medallist, Matthew Mitcham's journey to success has been an amazing roller-coaster.
Mitcham's pulled off a stunning final dive in the 10 metre platform, scoring an incredible four perfect 10s, to steal the gold off favourite Chinese diver Luxin Zhou. Mitcham finished with 537.95 points.
It was a massive upset, defeating the premier and form Chinese divers Liang Huo and Luxin Zhou in front of a fierce home crowd.
Mitcham, 20, battled depression, retired in his teenage years after physical and emotional burn-out, then just nine months later resumed his sport in 2007. Last night, his triumphant return to the sport was crowned with gold.
http://www.smh.com.au/...
And yet, NBC makes zero mention of it.
Why?
Clearly, someone at NBC made the decision NOT to mention it.
And in doing so, they denied tens of thousands of struggling younger people the chance to see that somelike like them could be an Olympic hero, and millions more that it is normal to be gay and athletic.
And, of course, no showing of his being awarded the Gold Medal.
I am angry about this.
What I ask, and I've never done this, is if you share the anger, please recommend this diary. I see no mention of this slight anywhere in other progressive blogs, and the blatant whitewashing of Mitchams achievement needs to be exposed.
Here's the link to the Advocate article:
http://www.advocate.com/...
UPDATE:
Here's video from Aussie TV - interview afterward with his mother & boyfriend
http://www.news.com.au/...
UPDATE 2:
Here's the video of the awards ceremony and the celebration afterwards. You will rarely see such pure joy.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/...
Thanks for all who recommended this. I write very few diaries, usually because what I have to write is covered by others elswhere, but also because with all the diaries posted these days, it is frustrating to spend time writing one and then see it disappear in an hour. I really appreciate it - I've been here a long time, and this is the first to be on the recommended list.
UPDATE 3:
Watching NBC now (West Coast - 3 hour delay). They are showing a boxing final. Betweem rounds, they just went over to the IRISH boxer's family and explained why his mother wasn't there (something to do with a visa problem).
Like I said, double standard, and clear self-censorship.
UPDATE 4:
This story is now being posted at both Think Progress and Atrios/Eschaton (who links to Think Progress). It very possibly was helped by all your recommendations. Thanks again.