CrossFit Games athlete comes out as gay in emotional video
CrossFit athlete Alec Smith (Instagram)
A top CrossFit Games athlete has come out as gay in an emotional message posted to Instagram.
Alec Smith opened up about his sexuality on Wednesday, August 21, in a video shared with his 300,000 Instagram followers.
In the clip, he explained: “I’m gay, and I’m at the point in my life now where I’m OK with that. I’ve accepted it and I’m happy with who I am.
“It’s been a struggle, my whole life I’ve known that I was different. When I was 12 years old I knew that I was attracted to guys, and I hated myself for being attracted to guys, which led me to hide who I was.”
CrossFit athlete: It’s OK not to know who you are.
The 26-year-old athlete, the younger brother of CrossFit Games winner Ben Smith, continued: “Ever since I was a kid, I told myself I was never going to tell anybody, and hide it.
“I’m older, and I’m still figuring it out now. I still don’t really know who I am, and it’s OK not to know who you are.”
CrossFit athlete Alec Smith (Instagram)
However, the athlete has since come out to his friends, explaining: “Truly, just talking about it helps so much.
“I know I share a lot with you guys about CrossFit and food and travels, but I don’t share that much of my social life with you guys, and I wanted to talk about it and be open with you guys about my life and my experiences.”
He added: “This past year, I’ve never been happier. Moving to New York, meeting all of these friends who are so accepting of who I am, is what is leading me to be able to tell you guys about my experience.”
You don’t have to label yourself.
Although Smith spoke about being gay in the video, he added: “I don’t necessarily like putting labels on people or things, and you don’t have to label yourself.
“Listen to your feelings, and if a label feels right, then great, that’s for you, but if it doesn’t, you don’t have to label yourself. You don’t have to say you’re gay, you’re straight, you’re bi… just be you.
“I still have the same goals, I still want to win the CrossFit Games, I’m still going to work hard. This is just another piece of information you know about me now.”
