Luke Strong, a five-time British champion in trampoline gymnastics just came out as bisexual.
The gymnast opened up about his personal life in a recent interview with the BBC.
“I’ve never hidden anything and I’m really open about the fact that I’m attracted to both sexes, male and female, but I’ve never been in a relationship with either of them so I don’t know,” said Strong, now 27. He added that close friends and relatives knew about his bisexuality, though he’s never made any kind of public declaration. Until now.
Strong also took the opportunity to address homophobia in sports, even in the gymnastics world.
Related: Actor Ben Aldridge celebrates pride… by coming out!
“I think like most people in the LGBTQ community, growing up is always a little bit difficult,” Strong observed. “Especially wearing a leotard, doing gymnastics, doing the splits — you get the typical ‘you’re a fairy’ and the gay jokes. I had that growing up in school and then especially in high school it got a lot worse. There was a period of time in Year 8 and 9 where the bullying was bad. I wouldn’t really talk about trampolining because I was embarrassed.”
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/t7ZEnUl4ZN
— Luke Strong ????? (@Luke_strong2) November 27, 2018
For Strong, dealing with homophobia has become a regular reality in the age of the internet. “On social media, you get your trolls every now and again, with homophobic abuse on comments or personal messages sometimes,” he admits. “But I honestly don’t even think about that ever. It doesn’t bother me: I feel sorry for people like that who are close-minded and still think its offensive to be called gay — because it’s not.”
‘If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan never the goal.’ ? pic.twitter.com/OFguIhwoYv
— Luke Strong ????? (@Luke_strong2) November 14, 2018
In the same interview, Strong also discussed a recent ankle injury that kept him off the trampoline.
Qualified for Semi final Saturday ??????
Photo- Mike Driscoll pic.twitter.com/HNgFDzshWt
— Luke Strong ????? (@Luke_strong2) November 7, 2018
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/YZAlxuEb6H
— Luke Strong ????? (@Luke_strong2) April 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/Luke_strong2/status/1236700002526932994/photo/1
SALTPDX
Good for him, but to be honest I had no idea trampoline was a sport… but yay another out athlete!
Josh447
Beautiful job on the trampoline!
Catholicslutbox
Yahoo com/news/one-baltimores-top-covid-19-235846020.html
Guess that’s not as important as ivana’s latest whatever
cs1900
What are you blathering about?
jayceecook
I love watching trampoline events. Some of the heights those athletes get while somersaulting and flipping is stunning. It doesn’t get the attention and respect it deserves.
Jim
Get over yourself Luke. It’s the 21st Century.
jayceecook
Get over yourself Jim. You’re an @$$hole.
Matthewnow
He didn’t come out of the closet. He put out a toe to test the waters.
sfhairy
Trampoline is a sport? That’s recognized?
jayceecook
Trampoline gymnastics has been around since the 30s. Competitions really took off in the 50s and 60s. There’s even synchronized trampolining and Double Mini-trampolining. It didn’t become an Olympic sport until 2000. It’s also extremely dangerous.
Trampoline gymnastics is more of a sport than many others out there that require almost no athleticism.