Matthew Mitcham will always have a place in sporting history.

In 2008, the Australian became the first out gay man to win an Olympic gold medal when he triumphed in the diving at the Beijing Olympics – and set a new Olympic record in the process.

It marked the high-point of a remarkable sporting comeback for Matthew, who had only returned to diving fifteen months before after falling out of love with a sport where he felt he couldn’t be his authentic self.

That theme of authenticity is something that comes up time and time again during our chat with Matthew – which, we promise, is an absolute cracker.

We talk about Matthew’s diving career; leaving the sport and returning to it (including what changed that made him want to come back); using his platform to help others; inclusivity; authenticity – and where his medal is at the moment.

Matthew is someone we’ve wanted to have on the podcast from pretty much the moment it started, and we’re grateful we’ve finally made it happen.

It doesn’t disappoint.

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Who would be a referee?

If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, you’re in luck – as we’ve assembled some of the very top officials who have joined us on the podcast since 2018 to discuss what it is that motivated them to become one in the first place.

In this trip through the archives, you’ll hear extraordinary stories from individuals who have taken charge of World Cup Finals, World Series games and more – and understand exactly what it is that makes them tick.

From handling the pressure of calling a decision correctly to the influence of social media to their own personal journeys, this is a cracking listen and a brilliant trip down memory lane with some of the very top referees in the world today.

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LINK TO THE JOB ADVERT MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:

We’re going to back to the grassroots and crossing the Atlantic today for an episode with someone who has a story that many people can relate to.

A promising young athlete, Riley Parks raced at a college level – and now competes as a member of the US Navy. He does road-races for fun – and when he’s not doing that, it’s skiing that is his passion.

He’s also a regular listener to the podcast – and when he reached out to ask to come on for a chat, that was something we definitely were up for.

And while he may not be a known name, we definitely thought it was worthwhile hearing from a grassroots athlete about his experiences in the world of sport – and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

So, we talk about his love of sport; his coming out story; his journey – all the usual stuff you’d expect – as well as life in the military, and whether anyone can learn how to ski.

It’s a different sort of episode but one we think you’re going to like, and we’re really grateful to Riley for reaching out for a chat.

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It’s got tens of thousands of members who play right around the world.

In fact, with more than 70 global tournaments each year, the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance may well be the biggest tennis organisation that you’ve never heard of.

Daniel Merrithew is the GLTA’S President and Commissioner – in fact, he’s been in that role longer than anyone else who before him.

It’s a role that takes him across the world, dropping in on the dozens of clubs who are members – and it was Dan’s own experiences in tennis that got him involved in the first place.

So, we get into all of that on the podcast – Daniel’s journey in tennis, the changes he’s seen in the sport, the difference the GLTA has made, Pride Days at the Grand Slams and so much more, all on this episode which we think you’re going to love!

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Chris Powell loves cricket.

A handy leg-spinner growing up, he played Minor Counties cricket as well as for Gloucestershire’s second XI and, after completing a masters degree in sports science, returned to the club where he now works as a physio.

Chris is also gay and, having come out to colleagues at the club in 2017, is now joining us for his first-ever podcast interview to chat about his story.

This is a brilliant conversation with a top guest who made a real splash when he shared his story on Gloucestershire’s website as part of LGBT+ History Month – and we’re delighted to have him on the podcast today.

We talk about Chris’ career; his love of sport; his journey with his own sexuality; sharing his story, both with the club and with the wider public; being inspired by Steve Davies; where cricket stands at the moment when it comes to inclusivity; learning Spanish – and how it feels to be hit by a ball in nets!

This is a top chat with a brilliant guest, and we really think you’re going to like it.

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Izzy Cerullo is someone with a sporting CV to envy.

Born in the United States to Brazilian parents, the rugby star is a double-Olympian, a Pan-American Games bronze medallist, a five-time South American champion and the first Brazilian to become an ambassador for the Athlete Ally charity.

And if you didn’t know any of that, you’ll almost certainly have seen the moment when Izzy’s now-wife Marjorie proposed to her following the Olympics in Rio.

After retiring, Izzy has become an ambassador for the Gay Games, and is now a member of the Organising Committee for the Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

So, this is a cracking conversation with someone we’ve wanted to have on the podcast for a long time, where we talk about all of that and more – from the pride of pulling on your country’s jersey to crowdfunding your Olympic journey, to visibility, retirement, finding a new career… and yes, that proposal!

We really loved this episode, and we think you will as well.

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We’re taking you to New Zealand on the podcast today - where England are about to begin their campaign to retain the Women’s World Cup which they won in that thrilling final with India at Lords back in 2017.

And if they do manage to claim back-to-back titles, two of the main reasons will be Katherine Brunt and Nat Sciver – who, in addition to being team-mates, announced their engagement in October, 2019.

We’ve wanted to have them both on the podcast for a long time, so we’re delighted that we’ve managed to make it happen - and boy, does this conversation deliver.

It's a powerful, moving and searingly honest chat with two genuine stars of the game that covers so many different topics.

We talk about life in New Zealand; their memories of that final with India at Lords; the changes they’ve seen in the development of their game; their own journeys with their sexualities; wedding planning and more.

It’s all coming up in a truly powerful episode, and we’re really glad Katherine and Nat found the time to make it happen with us.

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If you watched even a few minutes of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, you’ll know who Bruce Mouat is.

And on the off-chance you've been living under a rock and don't know the name, then you'll certainly know the hat!

The Scot skipped Team GB’s men to silver in China last month and then – just a few hours after earning Britain their first medal of the Games – was chosen to be the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony.

Throw in a clutch of World and European medals, and you can see why we were so keen to get him on the podcast – and after a whirlwind return from the Olympics that's included appearances at Murrayfield and a chance encounter with Judge Rinder, we’ve managed to make it happen.

This whole conversation is one you’ve been clamouring for, and it absolutely delivers – as we discuss everything from the Games to Bruce’s coming out story to being inspired by Tom Daley to be his authentic self in sport.

And the hat. We talk about the hat a lot.

It’s a cracker, this one – and we’re really grateful to Bruce for taking the time to join us.

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It seems like more and more networks are springing up in sport to support the LGBTQ+ community – and earlier this month, we got another one.

At the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, ‘Pride in Tennis’ was launched – with the aim of making the sport a place where everyone feels welcome, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Ryan Watson founded the South London Smashers; Ian Pearson-Brown founded Pride in Tennis; and David Hardman is the Inclusion Development Manager at the LTA.

They were all at the launch, and all three join us for this episode of the podcast to talk about all things tennis–related.

From their own journeys in the sport, to the founding of the network, to what the sport needs to do to make people feel welcome in it - yes, this really is a cracking episode!

It’s always great to mark the start of a new network, and we’re really grateful that Ryan, Ian and David were able to join us on the show this week.

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When Josh Cavallo was thinking about coming out last year, there was one man he turned to for advice.

After all, Thomas Beattie was one of just a handful of people who knew how Josh would be feeling, after sharing his own coming out story with the world a little over a year earlier.

The ex-Hull City youth player had the chance to play professionally in Scotland with Kilmarnock, and ended up making it as a pro in Canada and Asia before hanging up his boots as the result of a serious head injury.

He says he wants to turn the pain he felt being a gay man in football, unable to share his identity, into his purpose – and we’re delighted we’ve finally been able to get Thomas onto the podcast for a real cracker of an episode.

We dot around across all sorts of topics in this episode – being scouted; his time in the game; finding himself and coming out; the support he provides to others; and why Thomas thinks it’s so important for people in the game to be open and honest about who they are.

We’re delighted we’ve been able to make this one happen, and we really think you’re going to like it!

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