Matthew Mitcham Takes The Plunge Tonight

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 18th August, 2008

Fans of Matthew Mitcham will no doubt be glued to the TV tonight as he takes his first Olympics plunge in the Men’s 3m Springboard Preliminary. The 20 year old is third cab off the rank and the action starts from 9pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (7pm Beijing time).

Depending on how he goes, he may also be taking part in the Springboard Semifinal on Tuesday August 19, midday AEST time (10am Beijing time) and the Final that evening at 10.30 AEST time (8.30pm Beijing Time).

Read update – Matthew Mitcham Misses Out.

He’s competing with fellow Aussie Robert Newbury, who has been singing Mitcham’s praises of late. “Matthew Mitcham is an awesome diver,” says Newbury, who has competed in three Olympic Games now, and also has three bronze medals to his name. “He’s absolutely fantastic. It all comes down to the day.”

Matthew will also be competing in the 10m Platform Preliminary this Friday, August 22, from 9pm AEST (7pm Beijing Time). He’s number 29 on the start list. The Semifinal takes place the following day, Saturday Aug 23, midday AEST (10am Beijing Time) and the Final kicks off that evening from 10pm AEST (8pm Beijing Time).

There are only ten out gay athletes competing in Beijing and Matthew Mitcham is the only gay male, so it’s not just the Aussies who’ll be cheering him on, but the gay community around the world.

As far as the ladies go, Aussie tennis player Rennae Stubbs competed in the first few days of the Games in the Women’s Doubles. There’s also Germany’s Judith Arndt (cycling), Imke Duplitzer (fencing) and Linda Bresonik (soccer), Norway’s Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg, who both play handball and are also a couple, America’s Natasha Kai (soccer) and Lauren Lappin (softball) and Sweden’s Victoria “Vickan” Svensson (soccer).

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