Suppressing sexuality and navigating identify w/ Michael Gunning Ep 77

Michael Gunning is an internationally recognised professional swimmer best known for participating in the 200-metre butterfly event. He holds dual nationality and has set numerous national records for both Team GB and Team Jamaica in his competitive swimming career. In 2018 Michael was awarded Sportsman of the Year in Jamaica for his contribution to sport and has been a public figure in the media and entertainment world since he came out as gay with NBC Universal on E! Entertainment. As one of the few mixed race swimmers in a traditionally white dominated sport, Michael continues to fight for diversity and equal LGBTQ+ rights around the world and recently appeared in BBC ONE’s ‘Tom Daley: Illegal to be Me’ documentary. Michael holds a first-class honours degree in Early Childhood Studies and is a regular pundit and international speaker for diversity, equality and inclusion; he hosted the swimming events at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and is a Speedo Athlete Ambassador for Swim United. Michael openly shares the challenges of growing up in a sport where being mixed race was the anomaly and how he navigated this. We talk about the impact denying his sexuality had, why he thought he would secretly change and how up until appearing on E! hadn’t dated a girl or a guy. He shares how to enjoy the journey when you don’t hit your goals and what his dating life currently looks like! In this episode Michael and Amira discuss: - His journey into swimming as a 12 year old - Navigating race & sexuality as a mixed race swimmer - Suppressing his sexuality in the hope it would change - His identity and label and a professional athlete - Missing the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast despite getting the qualifying times - Learning to date in the digital world - What’s next for the professional sportsman Michael’s Links: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/michaelgunning1/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelGunning1 Follow me: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_communicationexpert/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiramansour/