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Gareth Thomas: Ex-Wales rugby captain has HIV

Daniel Davies
BBC Wales social affairs correspondent
Gareth Thomas reveals he is HIV positive

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas has revealed he is HIV positive, saying he wants to "break the stigma" around the condition.

He said he wants to show how people with HIV are misrepresented as "walking around with walking sticks who are close to dying".

He has also spoken about "shame" and "fear" of keeping his condition secret.

He completed the Ironman triathlon in Pembrokeshire after making the announcement - cheered on by crowds.

He finished the gruelling challenge in 12 hours and 18 minutes with high emotion at times.

Athena Pictures Gareth Thomas is embraced by his husband Stephen at the Ironman triathlon in Tenby, PembrokeshireAthena Pictures
There was a warm embrace for the former Wales rugby captain before he continued his race

In a Twitter video posted on Saturday night, Thomas said he was compelled to make the announcement after threats were made to to him by "evils" to reveal his HIV status.

Since making the announcement, for the 45-year-old ex-British and Irish Lions skipper flooded in.

It included a message from the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, on the social platform Instagram where he said: "Gareth, you are an absolute legend! In sharing your story of being HIV+, you are saving lives and shattering stigma, by showing you can be strong and resilient while living with HIV.

"We should all be appalled by the way you were forced to speak your truth, it is yours and yours alone to share on your and I and millions stand with you. H"

The former Wales captain, who won 100 caps for his country, is due to talk about his diagnosis in a BBC Wales documentary on Wednesday.

In it, he says at his lowest point in 2018 he felt like dying.

Alfie becomes an Ironman

Prince William was among the thousands of messages ing Thomas after his emotional revelation.

"Courageous as ever - legend on the pitch and legend off it," said a tweet from Kensington Palace.

"You have our Gareth. W."

Athena Pictures Gareth Thomas emerges from the sea swim in the Ironman triathlonAthena Pictures
for Thomas around the epic Ironman challenge has been immense
Athena Pictures Gareth Thomas cheers to crowds at the Ironman TriathlonAthena Pictures
The sporting legend was able to roar back his own cheer in thanks
Athena Pictures Shane Williams greets Gareth Thomas at the end of the Ironman triathlonAthena Pictures
Brothers in arms - ex-Wales rugby mate Shane Williams greets Thomas at the Ironman finish

Public information campaigns in the 1980s, warning people to take precautions against Aids, have left a legacy of misunderstanding, he says.

Advances in medicine now allow people who are HIV positive to live long healthy lives. With effective treatment, the virus cannot be ed on.

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Other than waking at 06:00 to take a single pill every day and visiting the hospital for blood tests every six months, the condition has little impact on day-to-day life for Thomas.

On the contrary, he is taking part in an Ironman challenge on Sunday, which has involved him learning to swim, which to Thomas was a way of demonstrating his physical and mental strength.

"When I first found out that I was going to have to live with HIV, the first thing I thought was straight away: I was going to die," he said.

"It's not like I blame people for not knowing this.

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"This is a subject that because of the 80s scenarios people don't talk about it because that's the only information they have."

He added: "The overriding question that everybody said to me - the first question everyone says to me when I tell them I'm living with HIV - is 'Are you going to be OK":[]}