Swimming
The 25 year old international sportsman declared his homosexuality in an interview because ‘I felt as a gay sportsman it was my responsibility to show my face’
May 26, 2016 - 12:02 PM
Spanish water polo player Víctor Gutiérrez has come out of the closet
The 25 year old international sportsman declared his homosexuality in an interview because ‘I felt as a gay sportsman it was my responsibility to show my face’
May 26, 2016 - 12:02 PM
‘I hope my example will serve to break the current taboo in sport’, assured the player Víctor Gutiérrez who graces the front page of Shangay magazine.
At a key time in his sporting career, and just before he must concentrate on representing Spain for the next Olympic Games, the player who trains at the Real Canoe Club in Madrid and is considered as one of the best defenders in water polo, has confessed it has taken time to decide when to do so, and had chosen this moment, having reached ‘the necessary sporting and personal maturity’ because my visibility is very important.
‘There have been more than seventy homophobic attacks in Madrid so far this year, and sadly this is the reality we see. There are few openly gay sportsmen, but my experience and what I see is that the people are changing, and as a sportsman, all I have lived is absolutely positive’ with these declarations, Víctor Gutiérrez has become the second Spanish gay Olympic athlete, after the ice-skater Javier Raya participated in the Sochi games in 2014, he was the pioneer a week later by publishing a photo him with his boyfriend on the social networks.
Victor Gutiérrez justifies his calmness is exiting the closet given the complete support from his family, and my experience of my surroundings as an elite sportsman has been fundamental.
‘I have never sat down with the president, trainer or my companions to say so. But now, this is my life and I can do as I wish, but when you are part of an elite team, you coexist with many people and establish strong links and with these people I have always shared my life’. Without hiding ‘but I have never been a flag-waver or campaigner’ but I want to share I have never felt any discrimination for being gay. ‘I have always been judged as an athlete’.
He defends the liberty of those who want to go public, but ‘things would be much easier’ if some world level sportsman with a global presence would exit the closet. ‘The world continues to be a macho place. It can’t be easy when playing football the crowd are shouting ‘maricón (poof)’.
The large clubs are companies and have many outside interests, but if only one of them took this step, it could influence the opinion of millions of people and change things faster, because sport remains one of the last places where homosexuality remains invisible’
Other openly gay sportsmen and women, started with the German tennis player Martina Navratilova in the 80’s and Amelie Mauresmo came out as a lesbian when 19 years old after winning the Australian Open. Two years ago, the American Football player Michael Sam became the first in that sport, supported by Barack Obama.
The British Olympic high diver Tom Daley remains active, and the Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz, who married his boyfriend in New York in 2013. Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe, and the NBA pivot John Amaechi who waited until his career was over.
Víctor Gutiérrez is sure his decision will no affect his projection as water-polo player, although he has left the closet without knowing if he will be chosen to go to Rio de Janeiro.
‘I am training and keeping in form, but I hope to know if am going to the Games at the start of July. I have had a good season, and the selector has told me I have possibilities’.
But whatever happens, he will simply accept it. ‘I was not the first, just one more’.
Víctor Gutiérrez - cover of Shangay
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At a key time in his sporting career, and just before he must concentrate on representing Spain for the next Olympic Games, the player who trains at the Real Canoe Club in Madrid and is considered as one of the best defenders in water polo, has confessed it has taken time to decide when to do so, and had chosen this moment, having reached ‘the necessary sporting and personal maturity’ because my visibility is very important.
‘There have been more than seventy homophobic attacks in Madrid so far this year, and sadly this is the reality we see. There are few openly gay sportsmen, but my experience and what I see is that the people are changing, and as a sportsman, all I have lived is absolutely positive’ with these declarations, Víctor Gutiérrez has become the second Spanish gay Olympic athlete, after the ice-skater Javier Raya participated in the Sochi games in 2014, he was the pioneer a week later by publishing a photo him with his boyfriend on the social networks.
Victor Gutiérrez justifies his calmness is exiting the closet given the complete support from his family, and my experience of my surroundings as an elite sportsman has been fundamental.
‘I have never sat down with the president, trainer or my companions to say so. But now, this is my life and I can do as I wish, but when you are part of an elite team, you coexist with many people and establish strong links and with these people I have always shared my life’. Without hiding ‘but I have never been a flag-waver or campaigner’ but I want to share I have never felt any discrimination for being gay. ‘I have always been judged as an athlete’.
He defends the liberty of those who want to go public, but ‘things would be much easier’ if some world level sportsman with a global presence would exit the closet. ‘The world continues to be a macho place. It can’t be easy when playing football the crowd are shouting ‘maricón (poof)’.
The large clubs are companies and have many outside interests, but if only one of them took this step, it could influence the opinion of millions of people and change things faster, because sport remains one of the last places where homosexuality remains invisible’
Other openly gay sportsmen and women, started with the German tennis player Martina Navratilova in the 80’s and Amelie Mauresmo came out as a lesbian when 19 years old after winning the Australian Open. Two years ago, the American Football player Michael Sam became the first in that sport, supported by Barack Obama.
The British Olympic high diver Tom Daley remains active, and the Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz, who married his boyfriend in New York in 2013. Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe, and the NBA pivot John Amaechi who waited until his career was over.
Víctor Gutiérrez is sure his decision will no affect his projection as water-polo player, although he has left the closet without knowing if he will be chosen to go to Rio de Janeiro.
‘I am training and keeping in form, but I hope to know if am going to the Games at the start of July. I have had a good season, and the selector has told me I have possibilities’.
But whatever happens, he will simply accept it. ‘I was not the first, just one more’.
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