In a groundbreaking moment for the sports world, professional Strongman champion Rob Kearney has come out, reports The Huffington Post.
Not only is Kearney ranked as the second strongest middleweight champion in the world, but his coming out makes him the first openly gay man to actively compete in a strongman competition at a professional, international level.
Kearney told the Huffington Post, “I 100 percent decided to come out now because of my boyfriend (Joey Aleixo). He and I have been together for two months and I didn’t want to hide it anymore (I’m sort of a romantic). Had it not been for him I would not have decided to take the leap and come out and who knows where I would be today without him.”
He described Strongman competitions as like a big family, and said he did not think there was a problem with homophobia, saying: “I hope people realize that being gay doesn’t change the athlete/person I am. I am still the second strongest 105kg Professional Strongman in America and I am still the same Rob Kearney they knew before this news. This is the happiest I have ever been and it feels damn good to say ‘I love you’ and really feel it. Be happy, and be you… that’s what matters in life.”
