In an interview on Australian TV, Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has revealed that he is gay.

According to the Australian swimmer, he has long questioned his sexuality and has now admitted that he is not straight.

Since he was 16, Thorpe had been continually questioned by the media concerning his sexual orientation to which he denied being gay.

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When the press tracked him down in Brazil and labeled his housemate as his "lover", Thorpe was dismayed that his friends were being hauled into the controversy.

However, he is now admitting that these were all "a big lie" in his life.

On Sunday night, the 31-year-old swimming champ turned to British journalist Michael Parkinson and said: "I felt that the lie had become so big that I didn't want people to question my integrity."

Thorpe admitted that he has been comfortable in coming out as gay and in telling those who are closest to him, including his family and friends.

As he spoke and became a trending topic on Twitter, the response from Australian viewers had been strongly supportive.

His decision was welcomed by both the sporting world and the gay community, helping other gay athletes and individuals to feel comfortable as well.

Thorpe had also spoken up about his awareness of homophobia in the society and at the all-boys institution where he attended secondary school. He had experienced verbal abuse by strangers who hollered at him using names such as "faggot" and "poofter".

Parkinson brought up the subject on Thorpe's sexuality being kept a secret and linking it to his depression.

In agreement, the swimming champ admitted that holding it back had greatly contributed to his depression. He had undergone treatment when he was 18 and self-medicated in the next few years with alcohol.

Thorpe also mentioned that he is hopeful to finding a partner and having children, saying he would like to have his own family. 

TagsIan Thorpe, Olympics, Michael Parkinson, Gay