Throwback to Hunky Olympic Rowing Hopeful Maarten Hurkman’s Coming Out #TBT #ThrowbackThursday
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When hunky former University of California at Berkeley Olympic rowing hopeful Maarten Hurkmans came out, the Cal alumni was a welcome addition to our tribe.
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Hurkman posted his coming out story to Instagram back in June. In it, Hurkman revealed that he’d long been out to family and friends. “Everyone that knows me will say that I’m very unapologetically me,” Hurkmans wrote. “I have a clear presence, you can always read my mood straight of my face, and I can be the absolute worst morning person.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEBLQzF7XF/
“I am also bisexual,” he went on, “something that I consider to be an important part of who I am. For many people, sexuality is not something to consider much. However, for many LGBTQ+ people, a lot of time and anxiety can go into discovering, accepting and reconciling themselves with their sexuality. I am very lucky to have been brought up by amazing parents in an open and accepting environment, and luckily, I have never experienced my sexuality as much of a burden. Not everyone shares my experience though.”
The full post read, “Are you your unapologetic self? Everyone that knows me will say that I’m very unapologetically me. I have a clear presence, you can always read my mood straight of my face, and I can be the absolute worst morning person. I am also bisexual, something that I consider to be an important part of who I am.⠀
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For many people, sexuality is not something to consider much. However, for many LGBTQ+ people, a lot of time and anxiety can go into discovering, accepting and reconciling themselves with their sexuality. I am very lucky to have been brought up by amazing parents in an open and accepting environment, and luckily, I have never experienced my sexuality as much of a burden. Not everyone shares my experience though. ⠀
It can be hard to come out, especially in sports. Not many elite athletes identify as LGBTQ+ and there are few role models to look up to and show that it doesn’t matter and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I am 2.01m, 110kgs, proud of who I am, and I row at the elite level. To many, I do not fit the stereotype, but I do want to be an example to anyone that feels like they can’t be their true self.⠀
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Identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community does not make you less masculine, or able to compete and win. In the end, we all line up at the same starting line with the same anticipation as we endure those final minutes before the start. Equally tense and ready for the green light. #pride”
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