‘Nothing to be afraid of’: Athletics icon Colin Jackson encourages gay athletes to come out

Former Olympian Colin Jackson has encouraged fellow LGBTQ+ athletes to embrace their identities openly, insisting they should not be “fearful” of coming out. Speaking in a newly published interview with Irish Independent, the Welsh sporting icon said he hoped his message would help others feel less alone and more confident about living authentically. 

Jackson, who won silver in the 110m hurdles at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and later became a world champion, came out publicly in 2017 after years of media speculation. He has since become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in sport, regularly addressing the pressures faced by queer athletes and the lasting impact of homophobic stereotypes within elite competition. 

Speaking this week, Jackson noted that progress has been made in recent years, with more out athletes represented across major sporting events and global competitions. However, he acknowledged that many still struggle with the fear of discrimination, public scrutiny and the effect coming out might have on their careers.

“I want people to understand that there is nothing to be afraid of,” he said, encouraging athletes to prioritise their wellbeing and authenticity. His comments come at a time when LGBTQ+ representation in sport continues to grow, with campaigns and organisations working to support athletes navigating their coming-out journeys. 

Jackson’s call for openness aligns with wider conversations happening across the sports world. Studies and athlete testimonies suggest increasing acceptance among teammates and supporters, yet many LGBTQ+ athletes still conceal their identities, especially in environments where anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes remain a concern.

“When you’re a young athlete coming through, I want to talk about my athletics and my athletic skills and my world title and my world records, etc. I didn’t want to be explaining to people what I was doing in my bedroom, because you wouldn’t ask a straight person the same question,” Jackson told the outlet. 

“So that’s when I was younger, I had no interest in bringing that to the ­general public, because I genuinely thought it was nobody else’s business anyway.”