OUR STRAIGHT MATES With Matthew Myers

Mr milk. won gold at the Olympics, married a princess and now has his own skin care range. Matt Myers spoke to the star about sport and sexuality, wardrobe malfunctions and his surprise foray into the beauty market.

34 DNA DNA: How did you come up with the name sporting arena? we have to do. But the royal family is so vast Milk for your skin care range? Definitely. I think fell in love with over there that it’s not really a big deal. As Michael Klim: Milk has been staring me in him. My wife certainly did! I know that when soon as Lindy says her full name then people the face for years – it’s my surname backwards. she met him she wanted to take him home! will treat her differently but otherwise they Skin care was something I kind of fell He’s so likeable. wouldn’t recognise her. So we’re still just into. I’ve always used products throughout Can you describe the feeling of marching in normal tourists. my swimming career, especially being in an Olympic ceremony? An Olympic gold medal is one of the highest chlorinated pools and the outdoors. For me it’s I’ve never marched in an opening ceremony accolades you can receive. What do you quite normal, and my goal is to educate guys because swimming is always on the first day. strive for now? about using skin care products. But I’ve marched out to closing a few times I guess success in business is my next goal. Do you consider yourself a metrosexual or is and it feels quite euphoric. It’s the end of a Milk is a growing brand but I’d like for it to be it just the European background? four-year block of hard work. Even if you’ve an independent international skin care label. Well, my parents always say that when I had bad results or disappointments, there’s So you’re trying to milk Milk! was quite young I was very particular about still a sense of accomplishment and it’s quite [Laughs] I’m trying to milk myself at the matching my clothes! In Europe, especially in special. I had some really good to share moment. I’ll milk my profile for everything Italy and France, men look after themselves a it with like , , Todd it’s got! lot more. Self-presentation and appearance is Pearson, Brett Hawke, … they Who has been your biggest sporting influence? really important. were all my close mates and we were on the I had an amazing coach, a Russian guy called Your shaving balm has a great peppermint same journey. Gennadi Touretsky. I guess he was my mentor. aroma. What do you think is the best What is the most embarrassing thing that has I moved out of home at 16 and went to live shaving method? happened to you in the pool? in Canberra at Institute Of I don’t have very thick stubble so in the past With the way the suits are these days, I’ve had a Sport. He was probably the biggest influence I used electric shavers, but I get bored with couple of wardrobe malfunctions. I’ve had a few on my swimming career. My parents, being things so I moved on to gels and foams. But seams go in the most awkward of places. But Polish migrants, were always looking for Milk is quite unique because you don’t have I’ve been lucky enough to jump out of the pool opportunities for me, too. So I have them to to over-apply water. You just apply it straight and quickly disappear. It’s not a good look! thank for that. onto the skin and shave. It’s oil-based so it You would no doubt have met many sporting You have a great looking tattoo on your arm. replenishes the skin and acts as a moisturiser. icons. Are there any personal favourites? What’s the story behind it? And it has this amazing menthol fragrance. My heroes growing up were Boris Becker and It’s a Balinese design. I was born in the year of Completely unrelated, but by the same name, Andre Agassi. But I was lucky enough to meet the snake so I’ve got a snake that wraps around have you seen the movie Milk? and , who my arm. It’s still not finished, but I’m working Yeah, it’s a great movie and an amazing story. I looked up to as a swimmer. I met Edwin on it. We actually supplied some Milk samples at the Moses, the 400-metre hurdler, and got to know pre-screening of the film here in . him really well. He’s such an inspiration and Go to milkskincare.com for more. Do you have any gay mates? was unbeaten in 20 years. Everyone’s special in Yeah, I have quite a few. My wife is from the a way, but he’s probably the most inspirational. fashion industry so a lot of her gay friends You got to meet Ricky Martin at the height of have become my friends and vice versa with his fame. What was that experience like? my friends in the swimming fraternities. It was backstage at one of his Sydney concerts. Who would you turn gay for? It was a buzz but a bit awkward because we Good question… Daniel Craig’s pretty hot. He’s were put into a room and then he came around got good pecs! He’s pretty cool in Layer Cake, for a chit chat. too, and that’s one of my favourite movies. Didn’t you say it was like meeting the Queen? Have you heard gay rumours about yourself? [Laughs] We were standing in a line like that No, not really. My wife jokes about it as she but I have met the Queen, too. She came thinks I might be [laughs]. I was on the cover out after the Olympics and I was invited to of Outrage magazine back in ’98. I had a Government House in Canberra with 40 other good following! guests. It was an amazing dinner with people That’s fantastic! And that was back before it like , Bart Cummings and General was cool for straight guys to be doing that Cosgrove. It was surreal. I was really impressed sort of thing. with the Queen. She was very clued-on about Yeah, I have nothing against it. A lot of people the sport and the suits. She knew about get paranoid but for me it was great to have Thorpie and everybody. She’s obviously a well- that kind of support from the gay community. travelled lady. There has always been stigma around openly What’s the campest song on your iPod? gay players in the sporting arena. Given Rivers Of Babylon by Boney M! recent events, such as ’s Your wife Lindy is a Balinese princess. Does success, do you think the tide has turned? that make you some kind of prince? I think men have felt uncomfortable about [Laughs] No, it makes me a slave! The servant! coming out in many sports. Times have Some people go on holidays and expect the changed, which is great to see. royal treatment, but when you go to Bali that Matthew Mitcham has been an incredible must have a whole different meaning. Once inspiration to the gay community. Do we’ve let the royal family know that we’re you think he’s seen in a similar way in the coming, there are a few royal ceremonies that

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