SAS Australia 2023‘s Matthew Mitcham is no stranger to a little competition having already struck gold at the Olympics.
The former world champion diver made headlines during the Beijing Olympics in 2008 where he became the first Aussie male to win the 10-metre platform diving event since 1924.
However, things haven’t been smooth sailing for the former trampolinist who has since faced a lengthy battle with addiction.
The 34-year-old told The Pink News that he’d turned to drugs and alcohol after coming down from the high he felt at the Olympics.
“I shamed myself a lot for having depression [after the Olympics] because I felt like it was unjustified,” he admitted.
He’d also faced a battle with depression since he was 14, so unhealthy coping mechanisms had become a habit for him.
“I was so ashamed, [which] prevented me from getting help. So I went back to using the same coping mechanisms that I’d used before to change the way I felt, which was drugs,” he recalled.
However, Matthew has been sober since retiring from diving in 2016.
“Today I am SEVEN YEARS clean and sober,” he shared on Instagram on January 2.
“It has been seven years since I put anything stronger than a Panadol in my body. And I am without a shred of doubt the happiest and healthiest I have ever been.
“Not everyone needs sobriety, but I did because I was dependent on external things to solve internal issues. And though I still have internal issues, I now have internal solutions,” he added.
SAS Australia 2023’s Matthew Mitcham launches an OnlyFans
In February, Matthew joined OnlyFans and according to his bio, his account is dedicated to “everything that would be banned on Instagram or TikTok”.
However, he warned fans not to “expect anything too risqué” as he’s still working in “mainstream media”.
“There might be a bit of semi-frontal nudity though,” he teased.
His husband Luke Rutherford is allegedly one of the platform’s top creators, so it seems Matthew might be coming for his crown!
When asked about his decision to join the adult site during an appearance on The Morning Show, the former athlete confessed he did it for “the money” and we love an honest king!
“It’s just another way for people to connect with me,” he said. “I don’t do anything too raunchy. I just like to show off my beautiful body.” You do you, boo!
What else do we know about SAS Australia 2023‘s Matthew Mitcham?
According to Seven News, Matthew is the ambassador for Controlling Chemsex, a charity that deals with people who “struggle to have sober sex” as well as individuals with sexual trauma.
He also spends his time in the diversity and inclusion space, particularly within business and sport.
The upcoming SAS star will also be taking centre stage, announcing on July 19 that he’d be “breaking into British theatre” in a revival of Strangers In Between.
In an Instagram post, he revealed that he’d be playing TWO characters and we love this for him!
And this won’t be his first time taking to the stage, having also shimmied it up on Dancing with the Stars in 2015.
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