Telling my parents was difficult enough; I can't imagine what it'd be like to be in the media spotlight since the age of 14, being subjected to public rumours and denials and jokes for years, and then decide to go on national television. To tell Parky.

(I hope he hugged you afterwards like my mum and dad did.)

Everyone's coming out story is different and awkward in its own way. Like Thorpe, I yelled my fair share of lies through the closet door. For me it was mostly to avoid embarrassment – for others it's to avoid being kicked out of home or being fired or even being physically attacked.

No one knows how difficult it’s been for Thorpe to come out as gay other than Ian Thorpe. He should be sent nothing but love and support and hopefully the telling of his story on Sunday night will help give mainstream Australia an insight into the struggles the GLBTIQ community still faces.

For those who've heard this news and shrug and casually asks "who cares?", I'd simply answer "15-year-old closeted me". Scared, little, questioning Tom Ballard would have cared a lot if nine years ago he'd seen swimming champion and national treasure Ian Thorpe on the news, proudly identifying as a successful sportsman and a bloke who liked blokes.