Gay athlete Matthew Mitcham, who won a gold medal in diving at the Beijing Olympics last year, has been invited to become the health ambassador for his country, Australia.
"Through sport, he overcame depression and anxiety. He freed himself from physical and mental destruction. In 2007, he returned to diving and shortly afterwards, winning gold in Beijing", said Health Minister Nicola Roxon, referring to Mitcham , who was the only athlete admitted to compete in the Olympics.
In 2008, the president of Fundação Partenidade, Warwick Marsh, was chosen by the minister to occupy the same position that Mitcham currently holds. However, at the time, the president referred to homosexuality as a mental disorder in an article.
With the invitation, Matthew Mitcham becomes one of three new ambassadors for Australia's men's health policy.
