Former Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham, renowned for his historic victory at the 2008 Beijing Games as the first openly gay man to win an Olympic gold medal, has candidly shared the challenges in his relationship on a recent episode of SAS Australia.
During the “setting fire to shame” challenge on the reality show, Mitcham opened up about his ongoing difficulties with honesty in his marriage to husband Luke Rutherford. Despite being clean and sober for several years, he admitted that he still struggles to be completely transparent with his spouse.
“I am so ashamed of the immense pain I caused someone for 11 years and who stayed with me throughout my addiction,” Mitcham confessed. “And even though I have been clean and sober for several years and that has been one of his absolute deciding factors, I still struggle to be completely honest with my husband.”
In a heartfelt moment, Mitcham also disclosed that he continues to withhold information about his sexual partners from his husband, despite having an “understanding” regarding extramarital encounters. He acknowledged his shortcomings as a husband, expressing deep regret for the lies and deception in their relationship.
“I let my own insecurities, fears, and trust issues be bigger than a promise I made to him. And in doing so, I caused so much harm and serious damage to the relationship,” Mitcham lamented.
During the episode, SAS Australia’s chief instructor, Ant Middleton, questioned Mitcham about being a “compulsive liar,” to which Mitcham reluctantly responded, “Maybe, yeah, that would be a very shameful thing for me to admit.”
Matthew Mitcham’s candid revelations on SAS Australia offer a rare glimpse into the complexities of relationships, shedding light on the ongoing journey toward trust and honesty, even for accomplished individuals like him.
Mitcham, who recently made his London stage debut with Strangers In Between, continues to navigate both his career and personal life alongside husband Luke Rutherford, both of whom maintain OnlyFans accounts with varying content levels.
In a world where achievements are celebrated, Mitcham’s unfiltered honesty serves as a reminder that everyone faces their own battles, regardless of their past successes.