From the Sky Box

An Invitation to Olympic Heroes

Holy cow, it has been four years since our first swimsuit issue hit the stands, featuring an array of athletes and fans, both gay and straight. Now in our fifth year of publication we are doing it again, celebrating our Annual Swimsuit Issue, and I’d like to extend a special invitation to two men who spend lots of time in their swimsuits – Matthew Mitcham and Michael Phelps. Matthew Mitcham is an inspiration for all athletes. He first came to fame in 2008 as the Olympic Diving Champion in the 10M Platform. But what got him more attention than winning the gold and scoring higher than any other Olympic diver since the event’s debut, was the fact Mitcham is openly gay. So out, in fact, that after his gold medal win NBC was chastised for not exploring Mitcham’s relationship with his boyfriend. Mitcham is not just a role model for winning an Olympic gold medal but also a role model for being open about his sexuality.

Like Mitcham, Phelps is also an inspiration for all athletes. At 18 he won six gold medals and two bronze medals for swimming at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Not satisfied with just six gold medals, Phelps pulled himself up by the bootstraps … err ... swimsuit, to win eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the same location where Mitcham won his gold for diving. Phelps now holds the record for the most gold medals won by an Olympian at a single Olympiad. He is not just a role model for winning those 14 golds, but also for reaching for the unreachable and setting a new record in the process.

Now that you know a little bit about these two gold medal winners, what special invitation am I making to Mitcham and Phelps? I invite both champions to appear on the cover of Compete Magazine – together or individually. Just like our first swimsuit cover, all athletes – gay and straight – are welcome on our cover.

Just so you know, I am not holding my breath; but I am sleeping with my mobile phone!

Sport on,