He won a legion of fans at the London 2012 Olympic games not to mention during his triumphant turn on the dance floor on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and Louis Smith is bound to win a few more devotees with his latest magazine shoot.
The London 2012 champ is Gay Times magazine’s latest cover star, with the gymnast showing readers the incredible physique which earned him those Olympic silver and bronze medals.The risque shoot sees Louis try out two pairs of tiny trunks to pose topless for the gay title.The cover image sees the 24-year-old facing the camera head on in a pair of tight blue swimmers as he flexes his muscles.
Inside the magazine, the athlete changes into a pair of equally small, striped trunks as he’s shown leaning against a wall with his head bowed down.The athlete contemplates his rise to stardom with the magazine, since becoming one of the poster boys of the Olympic games last year.Twelve months on from his incredible achievement, Louis reveals that he never entered his sport to reap the benefits of being rich and famous:
‘When you first start off doing something like gymnastics your aim is never to become famous and rich. You love the sport, you do the sport, and for me things are progressing beyond that… things are evolving, I guess, things are taking a different route.’The gymnast also makes reference to the changing face of sport and how it’s still a tough world for gay athletes:
‘Expectation – no matter what it is – tends to build up pressure and nerves. I had an expectation on me to perform and to achieve certain results in the games, and I think if you’re in a sport that’s deemed as a man’s sport you have that expectation to be straight.’‘That’s a lot of pressure to carry on your shoulders, so that’s tough.’Louis adds that he doesn’t think there’s much of an issue for gay men in his sport compared to others though:
‘You know there’s been a lot of people that’ve come out in gymnastics… because you’re always wearing a leotard, it’s a very artistic sport, it’s not rolling around on the floor getting muddy, so I don’t think there’s that much pressure.’Louis was in a serious relationship with swimming teacher Billie Whyatt, 21 but they parted in April 2011 due to his hectic schedule.At the time Louis admitted he wanted to concentrate on his training, but was nevertheless ‘heartbroken’ when they split up.
In numerous interviews since the break-up he has talked about how much he misses her, and says that he saw Billie as his ‘future wife.’Whilst he’s still single Louis does admit to one celebrity crush, revealing to GT that if he could be gay with any celeb he would pick family man Will Smith:‘I got asked this the other day… I said Will Smith. Because he’s very dedicated to his family, he’s very loyal, funny, hard working and talented. So, in the most non-sexual way, it would have to be based on the person.’ -= DailyMail
