'I made it my mission to do whatever I could do to inspire, bring others up and help create positive change'
Just a week before his 30th birthday at the end of last month, World Championship swimmer Michael Gunning received the type of news that he could have only ever got in that week: he was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
“Representation really matters and I hope it inspires everyone to know that anything is possible. Lots of young children of colour still believe the shocking stereotype that Black people can’t swim, and I’m passionate about smashing that stereotype out of the water.” Michael, who publicly came out as gay whilst appearing on E!’s reality TV show The Bi Life in 2018, says he still receives comments on a regular basis - both good and bad - about his sexuality but he says it helps highlight the need to continue working to help encourage inclusivity.
“My coming out in elite sport enabled more swimmers around the world to be more open about their sexuality, and it’s such a great feeling to know that I might have paved the way for many of them.” “The Olympics are all about bringing people together,” he explains. “I hope that me being a Pride House Ambassador this Summer will help inspire, educate and empower everyone who arrives in Paris ready for the biggest sporting event in the world.
And Michael says that one of the reasons why he is determined to do so much for others stems back to one tragic night in Manchester seven years ago this month. He was one of the thousands of fans to have attended the Ariana Grande concert on the night of May 22, 2017.
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