Simon Dunn is a former bobsledder and rugby player. Raised in Wollongong, he was the first openly gay male to represent any country in the sport of bobsled, but then retired in 2016. After several years in London he is now currently based in Sydney and plays rugby.
Career
Simon Dunn grew up playing rugby league south of Sydney, in Wollongong. Struggling with his own sexuality and life in sport, he gave up the only variable he has control over. Sport. Later in life getting back into the sport he loves and became player for the . Travelling to Canada to further his playing career, while he worked at the Canadian Sports Institute gym. Simon had the opportunity to try out for the Australian bobsleigh team. In making this team and representing his country this made him the first out gay man to ever represent their country in the sport. He was the brakeman for Lucas Mata. Although in November 2016, he announced his retirement from the bobsleigh team. He now plays rugby in London, UK with the Kings Cross Steelers. Simon was also nominated and shortlisted for the Australian LGBTI Awards Sports Personality of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. Simon has contributed as a columnist to Attitude, Gay Times and DNA magazines' online editions and more recently as a columnist on GuysLikeU and Gays with Kids.
Advocacy Work
Since retiring from the Australian Bobsleigh team. Simon now focuses on social causes that are important to him, notably those effecting the LGBTQI community, Homophobia in sport and HIV/AIDS. Whilst in London Simon appeared on Sky News to debate comments made by professional rugby player, Israel Folau, also being the face of a national HIV test campaign with charity, Terrence Higgins Trust, along with testing for HIV live online. Since returning to Sydney, Simon has continued with this work. Being announced as an ambassador for GiveOUT Day, which aims to help LGBTIQ+ projects and community groups. Simon also became an ambassador for Bobby Goldsmith Foundation in 2020. Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is Australia's longest running HIV charity.
Media appearances
Dunn attracted a strong social media following and in July 2015, he created a . Being noticed and featured on Buzzfeed, Dunn appeared in Attitude magazine's Naked Issue. With his popularity among readers he was also later voted in number 1 of the magazine's annual Hot 100 list. Since the start of 2016,Simon has appeared in 100s of media publications, including print, online, radio and television. Simon has graced the cover of several print media magazines, around the world.
Sport and acceptance of gay athletes
Like Ben Cohen and Gareth Thomas, Simon Dunn is committed to making sport a more inclusive environment for gay men and is determined to encourage more of them to be out and open.
