Spanish Water Polo Player & Olympic Hopeful Comes Out As Gay
Water Polo star Víctor Gutiérrez of Spain's national team has come out just months before setting off to Rio to compete in the 2016 summer Olympics.
The 25-year-old came out to Spanish language LGBT website and magazine Shangay in a cover story released yesterday.
"I am out in my life," the player begins. "My family knows that I'm gay, my friends too. I'm living my life in such a way that my sexuality is a very positive thing for me, so I decided it was time to share that with others."
Víctor Gutiérrez, jugador de la selección española de waterpolo, sale del armario en EXCLUSIVA para Shangay pic.twitter.com/ezjtExWjsK
— Shangay (@Shangaycom) May 25, 2016
In the interview, the player admits that he was motivated to come out because of the increase in homophobic attacks that have occurred throughout Spain already this year.
"There have been over 70 violent hate crimes in this year alone. It's a reality we live in. As a high-profile athlete, I believe it's my responsibility to show my true self to the public."
He adds that there are "hardly any out Spanish athletes" but that in his experience "people and their attitudes are starting to change for the better."
Gutiérrez attributes his strength and resolve to his family's relentless support of him.
"I came out to my mother when I was 19. I was nervous, but she told me that she would always support me and my younger brother said the same when I told him. I have the complete respect of my family; the pillars of my life are sturdy and in good form."
For their part, he says that his teammates are also fully accepting and that he's never encountered problems with any of them.
"At the end of the day, it's my life and I'm going to do what I want," he concludes. "I hope my coming out serves to break a taboo within the sport. You have to be judged not by your sexuality but by your sporting merit."
Gutiérrez's announcement comes just weeks after Spain's first out soccer referee quit the sport after suffering an onslaught of homophobic abuse that went consistently unchecked by sport officials.
