Daniel Kowalski, 34 year old, former Australian Olympic swimmer has come out and admitted that he is gay.

The swimmer has won four Olympic medals during his career and has said that he came out as he was tired of living a lie.

Another reason for coming out was because he was inspired by Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas, who came out in December.

Kowalski had been feeling angry and jelous because Gareth was now a free and liberated man.

He only decided to come out to friends and family in 2006. During all those years he had supressed all thoughts of being gay as he thought they were wrong.

He has said that he would like to find love very soon. He says that he looks for the same things as straight people do.

Kowalski follows just a handful of Australian sportsmen who have come out, including retired NSW rugby league player Ian Roberts and Olympic medal-winning diver Matthew Mitcham.He was congratulated on Twitter bt Gareth Thomas, who wrote: "A great friend and now a free man, who will help thousnads of people especially children."