Earnie “Coach E”
My mother’s reaction was not understanding or loving. I was told that it wasn’t true, that I did not like women and that I did not know what I was talking about.
Craig
I hope more step out, in more sports. When I was a young athlete, I was so scared. I wished I had someone tell me everything will be ok, that you will learn to be comfortable in your own skin and that you will find friends who love you for you.
Ineke
Every one of my friends and family knows I prefer women. I find it much easier this way, because when everybody knows, I can just be myself and don’t have to hide my sexuality.
Daan
You can do this, soon you will play with the boys if you want to.
Sielke
I doubted for a very long time and was in complete denial. Once I knew, I also found it very difficult to tell my team.
Elliot
If you are good at what you do and put in the effort, that is all that matters. People recognize hard work.
Kate
Who you are or who you love doesn’t change the way you play the game.
Astrid
I have never been scared to lose sponsors. I thought it was a strength of my personality to show them who I really am.
Lieve
As a coach, you often touch your gymnasts to help to execute their exercises. So when I asked if they didn’t think it was weird that I touched them, they told me they had never even thought about this.
Samantha
There are a lot of other athletes in the trampoline and tumbling world who are gay. Seeing how they were accepted made it easier for me to come out.