Matthew Mitcham, the first openly gay male athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, has ventured into the world of OnlyFans, shedding light on why athletes shouldn’t feel ashamed of this path. Mitcham, who made history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning the 10m platform diving event, launched his OnlyFans page in 2023. Since then, he has maintained a strong presence on the platform, inspiring other divers to join.
Mitcham’s decision to join OnlyFans stems from both financial and personal reasons. He has emphasized that athletes often face financial instability, with earnings fluctuating based on performance. “My personal earnings as an athlete dipped and climbed unpredictably,” Mitcham explains. “Funding was entirely based on how you performed at the benchmark event of the previous year. If you didn’t compete due to injury or had one bad dive, then things could get very difficult.” This unpredictability drove Mitcham to seek additional income streams, and OnlyFans provided a viable solution.
The former Olympian is unapologetic about his decision, embracing the platform as a way to showcase his hard-earned physique. “I’ve invested a lot of time and effort in my body. If people want to see it, I’d be stupid to give it away for free,” Mitcham asserts. His husband, Luke Rutherford, already established on OnlyFans, was a significant influence, and Mitcham made several cameos on Rutherford’s page before launching his own.
While Mitcham’s page is not about performing sexual acts, it is a celebration of his body and his choice. He believes that society needs to be less prudish about athletes exploring such avenues. “Yes, some might ask, ‘Why give it away at all?’ But my answer to that would be, ‘My body, my choice,’ and just like any project you’ve worked hard on, it’s natural to be proud and want to show it to people.”
Mitcham’s move to OnlyFans has even inspired Team GB’s divers, with five of its athletes, including silver Olympic medallist Noah Williams and former champion Jack Laugher, joining the platform. They have all clarified that they would not be sharing nude images but are following Mitcham’s lead in finding new ways to supplement their income while celebrating their physiques.