Out On The Field
Marvin Valdez fist pumps the athletes who shared their truth in 2025.
Every year, the world of professional sport gets a little more honest. 2025 has certainly been a standout year, with athletes, coaches, and even referees from codes across the world sharing their stories.
It’s a reminder that visibility matters, from the local leagues to the Olympic podium. At DNA, we’ve seen some of the barriers fall and, more importantly, an increase in the support that follows an athlete coming out.
It’s not just about the headlines; it’s about individuals finally getting to be their whole selves in the arenas they command.
When Mitch Brown, a former Australian Football League (AFL) player, came out as bisexual, it marked a significant milestone for sport and for LGBTQIA+ visibility. The AFL is known as one of the toughest professional codes, and Mitch became the first player to take that public step. Legends like Mitch help chip away at old assumptions.
Olympians Make Their Mark
The Olympic stage brings enormous pressure. For US Volleyball captain and three-time Olympian Erik Shoji, coming out as queer was, in his words, “scary, but freeing”.
He wasn’t alone among Team USA’s elite. Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast Jade Carey “hard launched” her relationship with her girlfriend Aimee Sinacola on Instagram, sharing her personal life with fans.
Following suit, US Olympic middle-distance runner Yared Nuguse posted photos with his boyfriend, Julian Falco, on Instagram in March. The post celebrated their first anniversary and was met with widespread support. Nuguse said it was important for him to be more authentic and at peace with himself.
A Changing Locker Room Culture
The old fear of a negative team reaction seems to be fading, or at least being challenged. When Danish handball player Villads Raahauge Jensen came out as gay in a heartfelt post, his teammates offered “high fives” and overwhelming support.
That positive energy was felt elsewhere. Josh Scott, a US basketballer playing professionally in Japan, came out as bisexual at 32. He said he endured discrimination and harassment, but ultimately found liberation in self-acceptance and enjoyed “high levels of love and community” from his inner circle and the wider sports world.
Gaelic footballer Mark Shields spoke about positive changes he has witnessed in locker room environment. He says the support he has received as an openly gay man in sport made his journey easier. He hopes his story will help younger players feel more comfortable being themselves, too.
Visibility Across Every Kinds Of Sport
Athletes often decide to come out to reconcile their own lives and to benefit the generations to come. In Poland, professional ski jumper Andrzej Stekała shared that he is gay after the death of his partner, Damien, because he felt their story needed to be told. Stekała, who is from the conservative town of Zakopane in the Polish Tatra Mountains, revealed they had hidden their relationship for years.
Others feel no need to hide. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion gymnast Charlie Larson enthusiastically soft-launched his relationship with his new boyfriend online, describing him as the “cutest”.
Penn State wrestler Erik Gibson shared his coming-out story in a powerful Pride Month video. Gibson first came out to friends and teammates in what he described as “thousands of little moments of courage”.
He admitted to worrying that his years of hard work would be undermined, especially with wrestling being the target of gay jokes.
However, his teammates “leaned in” rather than pushed him away, giving him a positive experience.
On the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour, Brazil’s Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva came out publicly, sharing a message to his boyfriend.
Trans Athletes Join The Conversation
College athlete Cody Smith, a trans man, spoke about his experience competing and finding affirmation on the track. Smith, 22, made the transition after he’d spent his first two seasons running on the Engineers’ women’s track team.
They, along with athletes like trans man boxer Nolan Hanson, helped push the discussion forward.
Change Comes From Leadership
Matthew Whalen, an Associate Athletic Director at Brown University, was inspired to come out after watching Coming Out Colton, the TV show featuring Colton Underwood, a former football player and star of The Bachelor, who came out as gay. Whalen told OutSport that seeing Underwood’s story deeply resonated with him and helped him accept his own identity after years of hiding it.
High school basketball coach and teacher Anthony Nicodemo also continued to speak about the hate he has handled in his career, showing persistence from those who lead young athletes.
Each of these stories, from cheerleading’s Randolph Rivera of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who, incidentally, can bench 97 kg or 215 pounds) to Mitch Brown, helps create a better environment for everyone in sport.
2025 has been a remarkable year for athletes, and it’s built on the honesty of each person who decided to speak up. Their visibility changes the game for the next generation of players, fans, and coaches.
And congratulations to Matilda’s captain Sam Kerr and her partner Kristie Mewis who had a baby this year: announcing the birth of their son, Jagger Mewis-Kerr, in May.
We can’t wrap this up without circling back to a massive moment this year. When Mitch Brown came out as bisexual, he became the first player in the AFL to do so publicly. That’s no small feat in a code known for being incredibly tough. It takes real nerve to be the first one through the wall.
Read the opinion piece: Why Mitch Brown Is DNA’s Man Of The Year
