In 2010, New Zealand’s Olympic speed ice skater Blake Skjellerup did what few elite athletes will ever risk: he publicly came out as a gay man.
What sets Skjellerup apart from other Olympic athletes who have come out though, is that he revealed his sexuality during his career.
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Two years since Skjellerup came out in an interview, he admitted he had not received any backlash or negative feedback for the move.
“The one thing that has changed is that I have a greater support base behind me in terms of people who know about me and my career,” he said.
“I think its important for anybody to just take part and feel like they can do sport. The gay community is extremely under-represented still in sport and I must admit, when I was growing up I had trouble finding someone I could relate to, not just with my sexuality but also in my sport.
“The more people who are out there being open and honest and not afraid to share who it is they are, I think the better because it’s still hard for some people to come to terms with their sexuality. If they have someone to look up to and to relate with, then it makes that journey a whole lot easier.”
Outside of training and competitions, Skjellerup is a Federation of Gay Games ambassador.
Along with Australian Olympians, diver Matthew Mitcham and cyclist Michelle Ferris, the speed skater advocates for the games and encourages people to get involved.
Kate Rowe, Australian/New Zealand ambassador manager for the Federation of Gay Games, said more athletes like Skjellerup were needed.
“For me, it’s very important that we have some younger role models because they’re the future,” she said.
The Ambassadors are not paid for their work but meet community members at events like the Midsumma Festival to stir up interest.
It would have taken a lot of courage to come out as an Olympic athlete, Rowe said, because he has not retired yet.
“With people like Blake and Matthew, who are still elite athletes, they’re almost putting their careers at risk because they know it may affect the sponsorship dollars,” she said.
“I think it is brave and the more people like Matthew and Blake who are prepared to stand up and be themselves and still want to continue in their sport, that’s how the barriers will be broken down.”
The next Gay Games will be held in 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio, making the next two years a mighty effort.
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