Swimmer Abrahm DeVine. | Photo: Abrahm DeVine / Instagram
American swimmer Abrahm DeVine came out as gay.
The medley specialist from Seattle, Washington has previously swum in the 2017 World Championships and the 2018 US Nationals.
‘I’m a gay athlete,’ he told Swimming World Magazine. ‘There aren’t too many of us, so when I came out to my college team, that was a really tough time for me.’
Abrahm DeVine: ‘Growing up gay in any sport is definitely tough’
When he came out to his Stanford college team, he was understandably nervous. But he had no need to be – the squad was super supportive.
DeVine said: ‘I remember that being a pretty emotional time. [I] just feeling my whole team wrap around me and feeling that love in a place where I hadn’t really felt it, that was definitely pretty special for me.
‘Just seeing them kind of prove me wrong was definitely special, something I’ll never forget,’ he said.
He furthermore added: ‘Growing up gay in any sport is definitely tough.’
Photo: abrahmdevine / Instagram
DeVine is in his last year at Stanford University.
He has his sights set on the Olympics, as well as potentially working for a start-up company or something with the environment in the future.
Out-gay swimmer Mark Foster
In an exclusive interview with Gay Star News, ex-Olympic swimmer Mark Foster revealed what life was like after coming out as gay last year.
He said the response to his announcement was amazing.
Mark Foster | Photo: Ted Baker
Foster said: ‘[For me, dealing with my sexuality at a young age] was one of these situations whereby I didn’t try and commit suicide, I didn’t self harm – I was very lucky.
‘I fell in love when I was 21; I had someone who looked after me. It was a love thing. I felt so comfortable at home, that protected me. So my own self, I didn’t have a dark story going on in the background.
‘I’ve had two partners. One for 19 years, current one for seven years. So, to friends and family – let’s say I did the big bit first. Telling my sisters, telling my dad. But I always found I had my own life, and my work life, which was sport.
‘I suppose being in the public eye and standing on a block and being very vulnerable, from a very early age I got used to hiding stuff, and it became a secret. The secret got bigger.’
Speaking about the importance of fighting for equality, Mark furthermore added: ‘Until it’s not a problem for Premiership footballers to come out, until there aren’t countries where people are killed for being gay and it’s not a crime for being gay, it’s not “so what?”
‘For me it was about joining the community in a very public way. And hopefully helping people come to terms with their sexuality or struggling with being themselves.’
See also:
How joining a gay swim club in my 60s helped me after the death of my partner
Laverne Cox’s life in travel (and amazing swimsuit collection) in 16 glam pics
Famous UK cruising spot allows trans swimmers in gendered pools
