Champion diver Matthew Mitcham moves to UK with new love after split from partner of 12 years

Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham has split from his partner of 12 years and relocated to another country with his new boyfriend. The former couple made international headlines at the 2008 Beijing Games when NBC didn’t show Mitcham kissing his partner after he won gold.

Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham has split from his partner of 12 years.

The 31-year-old has moved to the UK after he and Lachlan Fletcher parted ways at the end of last year.

“Lachlan was a wonderfully supportive partner for 12 years of my life which spanned two Olympics, two Commonwealth Games, depression, addiction, recovery, and the creation of an award-winning cabaret,” Mitcham told Confidential.

Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham has separated from his partner of 12 years and relocated to the UK with his new boyfriend. Picture: Nigel Hallett

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“We’re in very different places in our lives and we want different things. I’ve decided to move to the UK and build a career up here, but I’ll always be very grateful for his support which helped me to achieve my goals and dreams.”

Mitcham and Fletcher made international headlines at the Beijing Olympic Games
in 2008.

Mitcham with his former partner Lachlan Fletcher. Picture: Gregg Porteous

He made worldwide headlines after winning gold in the 10m platform at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Picture: AFP Photo/Greg Wood

Fletcher was in the stand as Mitcham won gold in the 10m platform diving but official broadcaster NBC didn’t show the Australian athlete hugging and kissing his partner during his victory lap of the pool.

“I would like to say thank you to absolutely everybody who helped get my partner Lachlan and my mum here with me to support me and watch me get gold,” he told Australian journalists after his win.

“It was so important to have those two people here with me.”

Mitcham has been travelling around Australia with his new boyfriend Luke Rutherford before they move to the UK. Picture: Instagram/@matthwmitcham88

He won gold in the 10m synchronised platform at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, as well as two silvers that year and four silver medals at Delhi in 2010.

Mitcham has in recent years focused on his career on the stage, performing his cabaret show across the country, as well as commentating for Channel 7 at the Commonwealth Games last year.

He has also been a strong advocate for marriage equality.

Since splitting from Fletcher, he has shared a number of images to social media with new boyfriend, Luke Rutherford, as the pair enjoyed a road trip around Australia before flying to the UK this week.

Originally published as Champion diver Matthew Mitcham moves to UK with new love after split from partner of 12 years