The Out Year in Sports So Far Is Truly Inspiring

A closeted soccer player in Germany made headlines when he wrote an anonymous column about why he's afraid to come out publicly. But others this year have boldly stood up, with the latest a boxing star.

BY Lucas Grindley

October 04 2012 3:57 PM ET

Orlando Cruz (right) lost a NABO Featherweight title fight in 2009 to Cornelius Lock.

Orlando Cruz
The featherweight boxer from Puerto Rico is ranked number 4 by the World Boxing Organization, and he's now the first openly gay man in the sport's history. Cruz told USA Today that being gay is just another part of his identity: "I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

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