American track star Trey Cunningham, who participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials last month, has publicly announced that he is gay.
In an interview with The New York Times, Cunningham described coming out to his family in private five years ago as the “scariest thing I’ve ever done.”
Now, he is sharing his truth with the world. Cunningham explained that his decision to come out publicly was inspired by a training technique he uses in track.
“We say our goals out loud,” he said. “If there’s something we want to achieve, we say it. Putting something in words makes it real.”
The 25-year-old hurdler, who competed for Florida State University, revealed that he didn’t fully explore his sexuality until college, attributing this to his upbringing in the conservative, rural town of Winfield, Alabama. He described his hometown as “the sort of place where you did not want to be the gay kid at school.”
In another interview with Us Weekly, Cunningham said he ultimately realised that “people just don’t care.” When asked if he thought coming out publicly would change anything, he responded, “I’m just Trey, and apparently, it’s a special thing that I like to kiss guys.”
Cunningham feels fortunate to be surrounded by supportive people but acknowledged that other male athletes might not feel as comfortable coming out.
“There are lots of people who are in this weird space,” he told the Times. “They’re not out. But it is kind of understood.”
Cunningham won a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and advanced to the Olympic Trials last month, though he didn’t secure a spot on Team USA for the Paris Olympics. As a world-class athlete whose career may take him to countries where homosexuality is criminalised, Cunningham said his public coming out means he will need to consult his management before travelling to certain destinations.
