Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham engaged after whirlwind romance
They’ve only been dating for six and a half months but Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham has announced he’s tying to knot after an emotional proposal from fiance Luke Rutherford.
Confidential
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Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham is engaged six and a half months in to his relationship.
The Beijing Olympics gold medal winner announced the news on social media after partner Luke Rutherford popped the question at the weekend.
“He got down on both knees, I said yes, and now we’re engaged,” Mitcham wrote on Instagram, showing off his engagement ring and the hashtags cute couples, hot husband, engaged, fiance and couple goals.
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Friends including Home And Away actor Lynne McGranger and American footballer Michael Sam congratulated Mitcham.
Osher Gunsberg wrote: “Just magnificent news. Hooray!”
Rutherford also responded: “Yay!!! We’re getting married!”
In March, Confidential revealed Mitcham, 31, had split from his partner of 12 years, Lachlan Fletcher, at the end of last year.
Mitcham and Rutherford at the time had just moved to the UK to set up a new life together.
“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.
“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.
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 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.