Simon Dunn, the openly gay Australian athlete who represented the country in bobsled and was a member of the Sydney Convicts rugby team, has died at the age of 35.
His body was found in his Sydney apartment on January 21, 2023, and the circumstances of his death are not being treated as suspicious.
A police spokesperson said that around “10 am on Saturday, January 21, 2023, police were called to a unit on Crown Street, Surry Hills, after reports the body of a man had been found inside.
“The body is believed to be that of the 35-year-old occupant. Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his death, which is not being treated as suspicious,” the spokesperson added.
Dunn was the first openly gay athlete to represent Australia in bobsled and after retiring from the sport in 2016, he took up rugby and played for the Sydney Convicts, an all-gay team.
Despite a return to bobsled in 2021 with the aim of qualifying for the 2022 Winter Olympics, his efforts were cut short due to a bicep injury.
Dunn was shortlisted for the Australian LGBTI Awards Sports Personality of the Year award in 2018 and 2019, and had previously said that his passion was “working for my community and advocacy organizations plus exploring further ways I can contribute.”
His death has left the Australian sporting and arts communities in shock.
