Inspirational gay Australian bobsleigh star Simon Dunn dead at 35

Aussie sporting pioneer and gay rights advocate Simon Dunn has suddenly died at the age of 35.

Australia’s first openly gay bobsledder has suddenly died aged 35 “after a rough year of personal loss”.

Simon Dunn, who also played rugby for the gay and inclusive Sydney Convicts team, inspired the LGBTI community with his sporting feats.

Tragically he was found dead in Surry Hills, Sydney, on Saturday, his agent and the police confirmed.

Dunn, who was from Wollongong, moved to Canada to further his bobsleigh career and became the first gay man to represent a country at the sport.

Simon Dunn has died at the age of 35

He eventually retired, but made a comeback in 2021 in an attempt to qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Sadly a bicep injury ruled him out of the competition.

News.com.au interviewed Dunn in 2020 while he was an ambassador for GiveOUTDay, a fundraising event for LGBTI charities.

He said at the time he was asked by a fellow rugby player if he was “really gay” because he was tackling so hard.

“How does your sexuality dictate how hard you can tackle? But I see remarks like that as a chance to educate people – and flatten a few people in the process,” he told news.com.au.

Former Australian bobsledder and Sydney Convicts rugby player Simon Dunn.

He had recently posted on Instagram about breaking up with Felix his partner of five years, saying it had been a “rough year”.

Dunn met his partner in London when he was playing for another gay rugby team, the Kings Cross Steelers.

“As we just celebrated our five year anniversary, it become apparent our goals and journeys had changed,” Dunn wrote.

“For me, my passion will always be working for my community and advocacy organisations plus exploring further ways I can contribute.

“After a rough year of personal loss, it became clear our time together was at a close and what we were looking for in life and partners had evolved.

“I give him credit as it takes true love to know when to let someone go live their best lives which we have decided to do.”

He also earlier spoke of his personal battle after his injury ruled him out of the Winter Olympics.

“Trust me, the recovery was long & painful. Unable to work, insurance companies finding any excuse not to help,” Dunn posted alongside a picture of him in hospital.

“I entered some pretty low places. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve referred to myself as a ‘failure’ or questioned my entire career.

Simon Dunn playing rugby in London.

“I’d find myself not being able to get out of bed, what was the point? Yet still I didn’t ask a doctor for help.

“If by sheer stupidity or thinking it wasn’t ‘manly’ to ask for help, Deep down though, I knew it’s exactly what I needed.

“I’m forever grateful for those close to me during this time, my support network shouldered the weight of what I was going though, when I should’ve just asked for help.”

Dunn was an advocate for the LGBTI community and took on Israel Folau over his controversial claim that all gay people would go to hell.

“There is still homophobia in sport,” he told Sky News at the time.

“It’s a culture that has been created and embedded over decades and I think we’re still at the tail end of that with the work we need to do to put an end to it.

“Rugby is a more accepting sport but most of the negative feedback is from football supporters.”

‘People should feel comfortable being themselves’

He was also praised for posting a picture of him kissing his partner after winning a grand final for the Sydney Convicts.

“We had won the league and my partner Felix was still playing. After the game I went over to him to give him a kiss to celebrate, which most athletes do with their partners when they win,” he said at the time.

“One of the teammates got a photo of that. So I posted it thinking it’s a nice photo, I could use my profile that there are gay athletes out there. Then I started to retweet it in response to Australian Rugby Union’s lack of response with regards to Israel Folau.”

Dunn began playing rugby when he was 17 in Wollongong but told news.com.au he stopped because of the homophobia in the sport.

But playing for inclusive teams rekindled his love for the sport.

However, some prejudice can come from within the gay community, he said.

Dunn was appalled when in 2019 a meme began doing the rounds that used him as an example of a “normal gay” who “doesn’t force upon you the fact they’re gay”.

“I think it’s sad someone in my community would put out a meme like that,” he said.

“At one point I didn’t get it too. But as I accepted my own sexuality, the more I understood no one is the same. Now I’m a massive fan of drag and camp; people should feel comfortable being themselves and we should be proud of who we are. If someone wants to put down someone who is camp, I’ll be the first person to defend them.”

Simon Dunn (black shirt) seen in 2020. He was a passionate about helping community organisations in the LGBTI community. Picture Rohan Kelly.

Tributes for Dunn

Tributes poured in as news of Dunn’s death spread.

His agent, Ruby Rose Management, said: “Simon was passionate about giving back to the community and volunteering, he gave his time, and using his profile, to help multiple charities. Like all great ambassadors, he had his favourites which included Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, GiveOUTDay and Pride in Sport.

“Simon never said ‘NO’ to donating his time to any organisation who wanted to grow its diversity and inclusion footprint from Woolworths to Lion – helping them all to better understand their LGBTQIA+ employees and customers.

“Simon represented us all, he always said ‘I am not the spokesman, I am just a gay white male telling you about my experiences, and experiences from those with whom I listened and learnt’. The sharing of these stories gives us all an appreciation of what has led us to where we are today.”

Drag performer Kitty Glitter said she “knew him as a young adorable teenager and watched him blossom into the beautiful man and talented outstanding sportsman”.

“I am in shock and heartbroken … We all loved him dearly.

“Our community has lost one of the most genuinely kind-hearted sweethearts the world has ever been blessed with. My heart goes out to all of Simon’s family and friends. His loving energy and spirit shall live on through us always.”

Originally published as Inspirational gay Australian bobsleigh star Simon Dunn dead at 35