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Olympic Speed Skater Blake Skjellerup Comes Out

Olympic short track speed skater Blake Skjellerup of New Zealand has come out in an interview with DNA magazine.

Blake Skjellerup x180 (Getty) | Advocate.com

New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup, who competed at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, has come out in an interview with Australian magazine DNA.

Outsports reports on the interview with the 24-year-old Skjellerup, which is available online to magazine subscribers. The athlete was the only short track speed skater to represent New Zealand in Vancouver.

Skjellerup said he would have come out during the recent Olympics if asked, but he did not seek out the opportunity because he wanted to focus on the competition.

“Blake’s teammates knew he was gay and, although some didn’t want to hear about it, in no way was he discriminated against,” writes DNA. “'The first real issue was that I was there to compete — to focus on my skating — and to not have the focus on my sexuality,’ he says.

“'We are not yet at the point in society where being gay sportsperson is not a big deal. If I was asked during any of my twenty-something interviews at the Olympics whether I had a boyfriend or a girlfriend — in the same sentence — I would have replied honestly, but I may have replied hesitantly,’” Skjellerup told DNA.

Skjellerup does not name his boyfriend, who is also a competitive athlete.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Eric
    Date posted: 5/6/2010 10:16:04 AM
    Hometown: Salt Lake City

    Comment:

    I used to see the USA speed skating team train in Liberty Park. I'd say it's time for at least one of the member (not saying who but he goes by his initials) to come out too.

  • Name: Jordan
    Date posted: 5/6/2010 7:19:45 AM
    Hometown: Johannesburg

    Comment:

    The second person to comment already has something negative to say. You see one heterosexual couple exchange affection, you have seen them all. But a homosexual couple exchanging affection would draw attention away from the event he was competing in. We should be proud that another sports figure has come out, they all help us out.

  • Name: Me
    Date posted: 5/5/2010 8:00:15 PM
    Hometown: USA

    Comment:

    Man! This dude's thighs are HUGE!!!! Getting to play with them must be heaven. Wondering who the lucky dude is...

  • Name: Sean
    Date posted: 5/5/2010 1:35:46 PM
    Hometown: Bristol

    Comment:

    "The first real issue was that I was there to compete – to focus on my skating – and to not have the focus on my sexuality" Huh? So were all the other elite athletes focusing on "bedroom behavior" when they simply embraced or hugged their opposite sex partners after competing? Sad to hear yet another gay man perpetuate the mean that being gay is some super private 'lifestyle' and not an ordinary part of everyday life like het athletes experience.

  • Name: Rob
    Date posted: 5/5/2010 12:27:44 PM
    Hometown: Puget Sound

    Comment:

    Thank you, Blake, for taking this step. I know it's got to make you nervous about people's reactions to you in the future, but there's no other way to show the straight world that gay athletes are no different from straight ones in competition, goals, and values. I admire your courage and talent, and I wish you well in all the events of your life ahead.



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