In the ten-meter platform event--the final diving competition of the games--Mitcham was much stronger. Going into his final dive, he had a chance to stand on the medal platform. The Chinese team had swept the golds to that point and was expected to take the last one as well, but Mitcham had hopes of at least a bronze.

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His final dive was an extremely risky back two-and-a-half somersault with two-and-a-half twists, which he executed with a degree of proficiency that drew gasps of amazement and admiration from viewers. NBC commentator Cynthia Potter exulted, "Matthew Mitcham has done something that nobody in the world thought anybody in the world could do!"

Mitcham said that his memory of "the dive itself is a bit vague. It felt good, although I wasn't exactly sure."

As he emerged from the water, however, he heard wild cheering and saw his score, 112.1 points, the highest in diving history. Poolside, he fell to his knees and dissolved in tears.

Gathering himself, he moved to the backstage area and was immediately mobbed and embraced by teammates, competitors, and other members of the diving community.

Controversy erupted when NBC, which had not even broadcast Mitcham's fifth-round dive (even though it showed all of those of two Americans who finished lower), completely failed to report the fact that Mitcham was the only openly gay man among the over 11,000 athletes at the Beijing games, showed no reaction shots of Fletcher in the stands (or, for that matter, of Mitcham's mother, who was standing next to him), and relegated coverage of the subsequent medal ceremony to its web site.

An NBC spokesperson initially claimed that "in virtually every case, we don't discuss an athlete's sexual orientation," despite the fact that they regularly show spouses and heterosexual partners in the stands and that they also considered a heterosexual love triangle involving two swimmers and a coach to be newsworthy. The network eventually apologized for its "unintentional omission" in its reporting on Mitcham.

Viewers of other networks saw Mitcham's elation at the medal ceremony and his touching sharing of the moment with those he loved most. As he exited the pool deck, he climbed into the stands and kissed both his proud and overjoyed partner and mother.

Following the Olympics, Australians voted Mitcham the Sports Performer of the Year in 2008, and he shared the nation's Don Award (named for Australian cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman) with pole-vaulter Steve Hooker in recognition of sporting achievements that had inspired the nation. He was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Despite his stellar performance, Mitcham found no corporate sponsors until he signed a deal with Telstra, an Australian communications company, in February 2009. He called it a relief to receive sponsorship as he pursues his goal of earning more medals in the London Olympic Games in 2012. Since most divers hit their peak in their mid-twenties, there is every reason to believe that Mitcham may realize his aspirations.

Most people do not appear as public figures at the age of twenty, but Mitcham has done so with grace, stating, "I never made the choice to be a role model, but as soon as somebody looks up to you or finds something in you that they like, you become one. And that's something that you either honor and respect or reject. I honor it."

Given its history, it is somewhat surprising that Australia now has exceptionally gay-friendly laws and public attitudes, with widespread public tolerance and acceptance of the glbtq community.

Gay equestrians are among the most successful and respected athletes in their sport, and a number of them have participated in the Olympic Games.

While sports, at least on the major competitive level, may be the final closet for gay men, there have nevertheless been a number of gay male elite athletes.

Canadian skater and painter Toller Cranston combined artistry and athleticism to help revolutionize figure skating.

World and Olympic figure skating champion John Curry was one of the first athletes to speak candidly about his sexual orientation while competing.

Australian Olympic medalist Daniel Kowalski remained closeted during his competitive swimming career but found the courage to come out publicly in 2010.

Widely regarded as the greatest diver in history, Olympic champion Greg Louganis has acknowledged both his homosexuality and his status as a person living with AIDS.

Long-distance swimmer and respected sports commentator has in more recent years spoken out on issues of glbtq rights.

Olympian Brian Orser, known for both his athleticism and artistry, led a resurgence of Canada as a force to be reckoned with in men's figure skating; after being outed in a palimony suit, he has become an advocate for glbtq rights.

At the height of his athletic career, Australian rugby superstar Ian Roberts made the courageous decision to come out as a gay man.

Olympic medalist Mark Tewksbury was closeted throughout his competitive swimming career, but since coming out has become an advocate for glbtq rights.

Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell is best known for founding the Gay Games, a sports and arts event modeled on the Olympics.

Flamboyant figure skater Johnny Weir won three United States Championships and twice represented his country as an Olympian; although there had been widespread speculation that he was gay for several years, he did not come out publicly until 2011.