Australian bobsledder Simon Dunn, a former rugby player and out gay man, passed away at the age of 35. Simon Dunn did great work for the LGBTI community being a very visible and positive spokesperson and role model.
The death of the rugby player’s reason is still unknown. People are speculating as to whether the young fighter killed himself. Because many believe that his suicide may have been the cause of death, However, his cause of death will be determined following an autopsy and an investigation.
Let’s find out what exactly happened to him and the real cause of his death in this article.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SIMON DUNN?
Former Australian rugby player and out gay bobsledder Simon Dunn passed away at the age of 35. The death of Dunn was discovered early on Saturday morning in his Sydney apartment.
Agents for Dunn, Ruby Rose Management, announced his demise.
Ruby Rose Management has the unenviable task of confirming the passing of Simon Dunn 35 years young. Loved by family & friends, and adored by fans, media, and social platforms all over the globe, our Simon Dunn has passed leaving an amazing legacy.
Simon will be missed, not just for his sportsmanship, not just for his valued views on our community and sport but mostly for being who he was a genuinely all-around nice guy, who had time for everyone.
He had a story for us all, but mostly he wanted to know your story, who you are, and how can he help share what you mean to live.
Vale Simon Dunn.
DID SIMON DUNN COMMIT SUICIDE?
Police were called to the Crown Street, NSW apartment. In a statement, police said they were called to the residence on Saturday morning, according to Star Observer.
According to an NSW Officers spokeswoman, on January 21, 2023, at around 10 am, police were summoned to a flat on Crown Street in Surry Hills in response to reports that a man’s body had been discovered there.
“The 35-year-old occupant’s body is thought to be in the container. The circumstances surrounding his death, which are not being viewed as suspicious, are being investigated by Surry Hills Police Area Command officers, a spokesman said. She added that the police would write a report for the coroner.
Simon Dunn: My Battle With Depression
Simon was first hesitant to talk to DNA because he thought he had betrayed the LGBTIQ community and people who had supported him for years by failing to make the Olympic team.
However, he did want to discuss the mental health issues and depression that many members of the LGBTIQ community face. Before relocating to London, Simon competed for Australia in international bobsled competitions and trained in Canada. There, he met celebrities, lived with his partner, and operated a prosperous business.
Simon’s Disappointments
Then, after experiencing disappointments in life, he decided to return to Australia, where he was residing in his mother’s spare room in a small town in New South Wales with only his suitcase as a home. Simon was left wondering what had happened as he made a difficult descent back to Earth.
Simon reflected on the abrupt transition from success to needing to go home, “31-year-old guy having to beg your mother for money to acquire meals.”
When Simon realized he had no spouse, no friends, no money, and no support system, he started to experience depression and anxiety. When he lost interest in going to the gym, he realized something was amiss.
Previously, he would train for competitive sports for six hours each day at the gym. He retreated from his spouse and started solely conversing on the phone instead of skyping, which caused uneasiness that he had never felt before.
“On the weekends, I’d travel to Sydney to get away, but on the train rides home, I’d think, “Fuck, what did I do wrong? What chance should I have seized in London or throughout the competition? said, Simon.
Struggled with depression for 3 years
He is not alone; almost 30% of the LGBTIQ population, according to the National LGBTI Health Alliance, has struggled with depression in the past three years. According to the Australian Men’s Health Forum, six of the eight Australians who commit suicide each day are men.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently revealed statistics that paint a more somber image. They show that suicide is on the rise, with 10 percent more men ending their life in 2017 than in 2016.
Simon experiences suicidal symptoms
Simon was fortunate in that he was able to recognize the symptoms and that he required assistance. As a result, he contacted a doctor with whom he had an open discussion. He advised him to return to the gym, return to Sydney, find employment as a personal trainer, and let things settle back into place.
Instead of taking medication, which wouldn’t have helped Simon in his circumstance, he followed the suggestion and started to change his life. He relocated back to Sydney, settled into an apartment, rejoined the gym, started a new personal training venture, and reestablished contact with his friends and the LGBTIQ community.
This, however, required some resiliency because arrangements fell through and Simon found himself crying most evenings. Social media also dealt him some blows because he would occasionally see pictures and memories of himself attending parties in London from the previous year.
Physical Transformation
However, he persisted in following through with his plans, and things improved. Within a few weeks, he was climbing out of his psychological hole.
When asked about the transfer back, Simon replied, “Although I still have my bad days. A few months later, as inspiration to show that social media is not about smiles, parties, and exotic locations, he chose to publish a picture of himself playing rugby.
The picture was taken a few months ago, at my first rugby match after moving to Sydney, so it wasn’t too far beyond my lowest moment. Simon commented after thinking about the post. “I didn’t want to post it, but I did want to convey that life isn’t just about fairies, parties, and abs. There are highs and lows in life.
People believe Simon has had a great four years, but while there have been some incredible moments, there have also been terrible ones, according to Simon. “I try to always be sincere online.
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SIMON’S OPEN TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE
So, to eliminate this idea of sugar-coating everything and perpetuating the negative sides of social media, I’ve posted about my sporting challenges, talked out about what’s happening in my life, and done a live HIV test, Simon added.
The response to his article was astounding, according to Simon, who claimed that only 15 of the hundreds of responses were unfavorable. People were overwhelmingly thankful to him for demonstrating that he was human and had experienced despair like others, according to the comments.
Simon claimed that men are under pressure to be strong and emotionless, particularly in Australia. Men are under pressure to look their best. We have a problem, according to the data on male sadness and suicide because Australia is a country that values hypermasculinity, Simon added.
According to Simon, even those who are experiencing mental illness may choose to ignore it. Simon recalled that he had not visited a doctor for a non-physical issue since he was 18 years old.
Simon is currently going through his darkest period, but he is thankful for the experience since it helped him develop resilience and taught him how to deal with his sadness.
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WHO WAS SIMON DUNN?
Simon has a strong commitment to serving his community
Simon was adored and respected by our community all over the world for representing Australia in bobsleigh, the LGBTIAQ+ community in rugby union both domestically and internationally, and being there for every LBGTIAQ+ person in the media.
Simon had a strong commitment to giving back to the community and volunteering; he used his profile and donated his time to numerous organizations. He had his favorites, like any great ambassador, such as the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, Give Out Day, and Pride in Sport.
From Woolworths to Lion, Simon never said “NO” to volunteering his time to any organization that sought to expand its diversity and inclusion footprint. He did this by assisting all of these organizations in better understanding their LGBTQIA+ employees and customers.
He spoke for everyone when he declared, “I am not the spokesperson; I am just a gay white male telling you about my experiences, as well as those from others with whom I listened and learned. We can all better understand what has brought us to where we are today thanks to the sharing of these tales.
He has left his adoring and supportive mother, sister, nephews, and niece, the place he would go when he needed a bit of reality or even simply peace in his reality, to become the face of the worldwide Gay Uncles Day.
SIMON’S CAREER
Rugby league was Simon Dunn’s primary sport growing up in Wollongong, south of Sydney. He gave up the only element he could control—sport—because he was struggling with his sexuality and his life in the sport. Later in life, he returned to the sport he always loved and joined the Sydney Convicts Rugby team.
Dunn had the chance to test out for the Australian bobsleigh squad while visiting Canada to advance his playing career and working at the Canadian Sports Institute gym.
First Gay person to represent the country
He became the first gay person to ever represent his country in a sport by being selected for this team and doing so. He was Lucas Mata’s brakeman. Nevertheless, he declared his retirement from bobsleighing in November 2016.
He then joined the Kings Cross Steelers to play rugby in London, United Kingdom. Additionally, in both 2018 and 2019, Dunn was nominated for and made the shortlist for the Australian LGBTI Awards Sports Personality of the Year.
Dunn has written columns for the online versions of the magazine’s Attitude, Gay Times, and DNA. More recently, he has written columns for GuysLikeU and Gays with Kids. As the main character in Greg Gould & Inaya Day’s music video for the tune “Love Like This” in 2020, Simon made his acting debut.
Olympic Aspirations
Dunn made the decision to return to bobsledding and pursue his Olympic goal in 2021. He had begun his preparations to join the Australian squad competing at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. He had to return to Australia for treatment after rupturing a bicep during training, cutting his trip short.
Dunn and his five-year partner Felix Maisey-Curtis announced their separation in November 2022. When they were photographed kissing on the rugby field in 2018, Dunn and Felix made headlines all around the world. After “a difficult year of personal loss,” the couple had amicably chosen to part ways, according to Dunn.
Dunn, a strong supporter of LGBTQI rights and an ambassador for the Australian HIV charity Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, said, “For me, my focus will always be working for my community and advocacy organizations as well as researching new ways I can contribute.”
MEDIA CAREER
Dunn has a significant social media fan base and launched a YouTube account in July 2015. Dunn appeared in Attitude magazine’s Naked Issue after being recognized and posted on BuzzFeed.
Because of his readership’s popularity, he was later chosen as the magazine’s Hot 100 list’s top pick. Since the beginning of the year, Dunn has been featured in hundreds of print, online, radio, and television publications. Dunn has appeared on the covers of numerous print magazines all across the world.
Alongside Steve Brockman and Nic Evans, he made an appearance in the 2020 documentary Steelers: The World’s First Gay Rugby Club by Eammon Ashton-Atkinson.
ACTIVIST WORK
Dunn started focusing on social issues that are important to him after his original departure from the Australian Bobsleigh team, particularly those affecting the LGBTQI community, homophobia in sport, and HIV/AIDS.
While in London, Dunn made an appearance on Sky News to discuss remarks made by professional rugby player Israel Folau, who is also the face of a nationwide HIV test campaign with the Terrence Higgins Trust and does live online HIV testing.
Dunn has continued this effort ever since arriving in Sydney. Being announced as an ambassador for GiveOUT Day, which aims to help LGBTIQ+ projects and community groups.
In 2020, Dunn also accepted a position as a Bobby Goldsmith Foundation ambassador. The longest-running HIV charity in Australia is Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF).
SIMON’S FINAL POST
I think it’s time for another photoshoot?, Dunn captioned a shot she posted on social media on Thursday. He had recently blogged about taking the Pride Cruise from Melbourne in December 2022 and enjoying Christmas in the sun on the beach, writing, “An Australian Christmas just hits different.”
Using the hashtag “Oh hello 2023,” Dunn uploaded a picture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge pyrotechnics on January 1. A roller coaster from 2022 is now in the past.
How do Simon’s friends react to this sudden death?
Mike Galvin
I know many of you would be shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Simon Dunn. Simon was not just a great athlete, he was a huge advocate for LGBTQI+ equality and a trailblazer for acceptance and inclusiveness. He was also a valued and highly respected member of our community Today our thoughts are with his family, friends, his clients, and teammates from his time with the Sydney Convicts, Kings Cross Steelers in London, and his bobsled family. Simon didn’t just represent his community well. He represented his country exceptionally well. Thank you Simon for everything you did for others and all of your contributions and achievements. We’re all devastated. For 24-hour crisis support please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527.
Nic Fren
RIP mate Simon Dunn We’d only just recently been talking about doing a podcast discussing mental health and overcoming obstacles. Shattered to hear this news. Another person was taken way too early. You will be greatly missed by your friends and your community!
Caine Wallace
My heart goes out to all the friends and family members of Simon Dunn x Whenever he would come into Universal to do an event or even just to have a nice time he was always so lovely to talk to and so easy to work with! It’s so sad to hear of his loss and I know many people in our community are so taken aback by this! I’m here if anyone needs to talk or just wants someone to listen x Rest easy.
If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.