Victor Gutierrez, a member of the Spanish national water polo team currently preparing for this summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, has come out as gay in an edition of the magazine Shangay.

Said Gutierrez to the magazine:

” I had been thinking about it for quite some time…I'm out of the closet at home. My family knows I'm gay, my friends too. And I'm living so comfortably with my sexuality that I felt a responsibility to come out and share it.”

“Although I'm coming out, I respect those who choose not to. I have never met anyone who has judged me as an athlete for my sexuality. It has always been based on my performance. As a gay athlete, I feel the responsibility to come out because it is very important. There have been more than 70 homophobic attacks in Madrid so far this year, it is a reality that we live. And there are almost no athletes who say they are gay. But in my experience, people have changed; as an athlete, everything I have experienced is absolutely positive.”

Wrote Gutierrez on Instagram

“This is the result of a bold and informed decision . It took a lot of thought but I am proud to do my part for gay visibility in the sport. Thanks to my family who have always supported me, my stalwart friends who have been by my side , the team at Shangay (magazine), and to all those who in one way or another have made me the person I am . And especially to Javier Caceres Perez for being the brains and give me the strength I needed to take this step forward. This is me. Hugs and kisses for everyone!

And a (Spanish language) interview with Gutierrez here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BF1U48bzJ9k/?taken-by=victor_g91

Some photos:

https://www.instagram.com/p/wt1noITJ0U/?taken-by=victor_g91

https://www.instagram.com/p/_BspTWzJxr/?taken-by=victor_g91

https://www.instagram.com/p/1Spc-9TJ8j/?taken-by=victor_g91

https://www.instagram.com/p/yCanmvTJyF/?taken-by=victor_g91

https://www.instagram.com/p/t0jJzjTJxM/?taken-by=victor_g91