35+ of the World’s Most Popular LGBT Stars and Athletes

Before Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe held the record as the greatest swimmer in sports history. He has won a total of 37 gold medals, 9 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals, with 10 of them coming from his part in the Olympics.

Thorpe officially came out of the closet during an interview in 2014. He came out to Michael Parkinson, saying, “I am telling the world that I am gay and I hope this makes it easier for others now, and even if you’ve held it in for years, it feels easier to get it out.”