Nico Young Becomes First Out Gay US Track & Field Olympian!

Nico Young Becomes First Out Gay US Track & Field Olympian!

21-year-old athlete Nico Young came out publicly in 2022, and to his friends and family the year before that. This year he will become the first openly gay US track and field athlete to compete in the Summer Paris Olympics. He finished third in the men's 10,000 at the track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon, making LGBTQ history for the US. He is also competing in the 5,000 meters during the trials and may place to appear in two Olympic spots.

 

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As of right now, Nico is also the only gay athlete globally who will compete in his field. Coming out to his team, friends, and family in 2021, his career has been on the up and up becoming an NCAA Record Holder and
NCAA Champion. In 2022, he came out to the world on Instagram:

 

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This may come as a shock to some of you, but this is something I have always known and have finally decided to share with the world. I like guys, not girls. Anyone who tells you that being gay is a choice is wrong. I am living proof that it is not a choice, it is something I have always known and been aware of, but have kept silent out of fear of rejection. I have struggled to accept myself, but I am becoming more proud and happy with who I am. I have realized that the only reason I never liked this part of who I am was because of what society has told me, not because of how I actually feel.

Nico hails from Southern California and became a runner for Northern Arizona University. He said he thought that people only liked him because of his success on track and field and that coming out might detract from that. He told Runners World that he has heard from numerous LGBTQ youth and feels glad that he came out so he can serve as a role model and encourage other queer athletes to live their truth.

 

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The Paris Olympics will feature the highest number of openly gay athletes ever. As time goes on, our representation in the sports world is growing. Yay representation. Good luck, Nico - we will be watching!

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