Dennis Finnegan, athletics champion in the triple jump, came out as gay in an interview with the podcast Five Rings To Rule Them All.
The Irishman said he decided to have a career in athletics because it is a non-team sport, and because he believes the environment is more friendly than in other professional sports.
“I never worried about any kind of comments. But when I was leaning more towards, say, football, [being gay] became a problem,” she reported.
Finnegan also said he hopes to encourage other LGBT athletes to feel less lonely. “There are still those who are scared and unsure of what is happening, so I hope that telling my story will help someone realize that there is more acceptance.”
