Team GB champion gymnast Luke Strong comes out publicly as bisexual
The trampolinist has opened up about his sexuality in a new BBC podcast.
By Will Stroude
Team GB gymnast and trampolinist Luke Strong has come out publicly as bisexual.
The five-time British champion and former World Champion silver medalist, 26, opened up about his sexuality for the first time in a episode of the BBC’s LGBT Sports podcast.
“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,” Strong said.
The Liverpudlian athlete, who almost lost a leg in 2009 at the age of 15 after a suffering a horrific injury in training, explained that “the bullying was bad” during his time at school, where his lvoe of gymnastics made him a target for homophobic abuse.
“Especially wearing a leotard, doing gymnastics, doing the splits”, he recalled. “You get the typical ‘you’re a fairy’ and the gay jokes.”
‘If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan never the goal.’ ✨ pic.twitter.com/OFguIhwoYv
— Luke Strong 🤸🏽♂️ (@Luke_strong2) November 14, 2018
He added: “It doesn’t bother me. I feel sorry for people like that who are close-minded and still think it’s offensive to be called gay — because it’s not.”