OTHER BOLD DISCLOSURES

Some athletes who have come out during their playing careers.

M Navratilova TENNIS

Tennis great Martina Navratilova revealed she was bisexual in 1981 and admitted to a relationship with Rita Mae Brown, American writer and activist. They split in 1991, and in December 2015, Navratilova married girlfriend Julia Lemigova.

Hayley Jensen and Nicola Hancock CRICKET

Jensen, a New Zealand women’s cricketer, and Hancock, who played for Australia, entered into wedlock in April. Hancock has played 8 ODIs and 20 T20s while Jensen also played BBL.

Jason Collins BASKETBALL

He came out in the open in 2013 after 13 seasons in NBA, becoming the first active male athlete from one of the four major North American professional team sports to publicly do so. Collins played 22 games before retiring.

Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu CRICKET

The New Zealand women cricketers married in 2017. Satterthwaite was named World ODI Player of the Year in 2017, while Tahuhu is one of the quickest bowlers in women’s cricket.

Gareth Thomas RUGBY

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas, who made over 100 Test appearances, came out in 2009.

The public acceptance of his sexuality made him the first openly gay professional Rugby Union player.

Caster Semenya

ATHLETICS

South African 800m Olympic champion married her partner Violet Raseboya in January 2017. Semenya recently lost her case in the CAS, which ruled she will have to reduce testosterone levels to continue running.