Ian Thorpe snubbed the AOC float and the Mardi Gras parade for private party

ORGANISERS had high hopes that Ian Thorpe would celebrate his first Mardi Gras since coming out in 2014 aboard the Australian Olympic Committee’s float.

Ian Thorpe Belvedere Private Party 6 Mar 16 Syd Con Picture: Ken Butti

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ORGANISERS had high hopes that Ian Thorpe would celebrate his first Mardi Gras since coming out in 2014 aboard the Australian Olympic Committee’s float.

But instead, the notoriously media-shy swimmer snubbed the AOC’s float and in fact the parade itself.

Rather than celebrating on the streets, the 33-year-old instead opted to attend a private party for prestige vodka Belvedere in a quiet street in Paddington.

Ian Thorpe decided to attend the Belvedere Private Party. Picture: Ken Butti

Thorpe attended with new boyfriend, 26-year-old model and law student Ryan Channing. The genetically blessed duo, whose relationship first became known early last month, were in high spirits, chatting with friends and other partygoers including Julian Tobias, Danny Clayton and Pip Edwards.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about the float last month, AOC float organiser and fellow Olympian Daniel Kowalski said: “It’s obvious who I’d like to be there. But I don’t want to put Ian on the spot. It’s not something you can rush into.”

The Mardi Gras parade 2016 went on without Thorpey.

Diver Matthew Mitcham, who was Australia’s first openly gay Olympian when he competed at the 2008 games, agreed.

“It would be really good if he did,” Mitcham said.

“The last we heard of him in the media was he was having trouble adjusting to an ‘out’ lifestyle. It would be really great for him, but for someone as shy as he is, Mardi Gras is a pretty full-on event.”

Confidential has reached out to the AOC float organisers for comment.