“I am aware of more athletes who now are living quite openly but there are still very few at the highest level representing their country. It still feels, not a taboo subject, but just hushed away from. When you have 11,000 athletes at the Olympics and 150 out gay sportsmen and women, it just doesn’t add up. In athletics, we’re not household names and we don’t get as much publicity, so it is quite easy to go under the radar. But the more people that do come out and just live openly, it would make it so much easier for the more mainstream sportspeople, or everyday people who enjoy sport but are worried about being outed in their club team. I always say nowadays it’s all about being visible. If you are fortunate enough to be in a relationship with a supportive family, in a country or place where living openly is pretty safe, I really would recommend it because it will only benefit you and your mental health. You’ll probably perform better as well because you’re not worried about it.”–British Olympic runner Tom Bosworth, encouraging closeted fellow athletes to come out of the closet. In an interview with The Daily Mail, he also elaborated on the impact of his own coming out. Bosworth, who will compete for the UK in the games, is also Britain’s only openly gay team member this year.
Jim
Athletes are not known for their courage.
Walter21
I’m sure the fact that he is Britain’s only openly gay team member will come as a surprise to Tom Daley.
Jon in Canada
HAHAHA Fair point
skeldare
Probably meant the only openly gay Runner from the UK
RyanMBecker
Tom Daley and the 11 other openly gay athletes competing for the UK do not bring to the track and field team. The article was referring to the track and field team.
simon1103
I think you have this article wrong, he is not the only gay team member from the UK
RyanMBecker
They’re referring to the track and field team. He is the only UK athlete belonging to the track and field team.
Kangol2
Um. Queerty, the UK has thirteen openly gay athletes at this year’s Olympics. To quote GayTimes’s article “TEAM LGBTQ: A guide to the openly queer athletes competing at Tokyo 2020” (you can find it via Google):
“Team GB has 13 openly LGBTQ+ athletes competing for a medal at this year’s event, including Tom Daley, Carl Hester, Saskia Budgett and Tom Bosworth. The Team GB women’s football squad has five openly LGBTQ+ players too.”
RyanMBecker
They’re referring to the track and field team. None of those other UK athletes belong to the track and field team.
Cam
Good for him!
Fahd
What he says is very sensible, and I’m glad he was sensitive to the plight of athletes who live in/represent countries in which it may be dangerous or even life-threatening to come out. The International Olympic Committee could play a role by offering supports too.
cuteguy
He’s right, more should come out and join the party. We all know how scary it is but we also all know how great it feels once you do
Hermes in DC
Sloppy post shows how far a little good editing can go.
As others have pointed out, he’s not Team Britain’s only openly gay member. Maybe you thought “track and field” team member, but still, clarity is a virtue.
But he’s also NOT a runner. He’s a race walker, as any quick search will quickly indicate.
wikidBSTN
Pretty much everyone I know who is out, including myself, wishes they had done it earlier than they did.