Heath Thorpe, Instagram
Fresh off a strong fifth-place finish on the horizontal bar at the Gymnastics World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, the openly gay Australian gymnast Heath Thorpe has every reason to celebrate, reports Outsports.
His final score of 13.733 was an improvement from his qualifying round, bumping him up from sixth.
“A perfect way to cap off a wonderful start to the season,” Thorpe shared on Instagram, adding his excitement for another competition in Luxembourg before heading back to Sydney to train for future upgrades.
Thorpe’s recent success comes after a surprising omission from the Australian team for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, a decision that puzzled many, especially after his all-around championship win in Australia. Olympic team selections often come down to a numbers game, and the committee felt other athletes better aligned with their medal prospects.
An outspoken and proud gay athlete for years, Thorpe frequently shares posts celebrating his identity. He also boasts a strong record, including multiple medals from the Oceania Gymnastics Championships in team events, floor exercise, and horizontal bar.
Regardless of the Australian team’s future decisions, Thorpe is clearly making his mark on the international stage. The question now is whether he can carry this momentum towards the 2028 Summer Olympics right here in Los Angeles – a challenging but certainly watchable journey.
