Andrzej Stekala took a big step at the turn of the year. © Social media

Tragic coming out: “I don’t want to run away anymore”

Polish ski jumper Andrzej Stekala ushered in the year 2025 with a moving message. The 29-year-old came out as gay on Instagram and spoke for the first time about the loss of his life partner.

04 January 2025

From: sn

"For years I lived in secret, afraid that who I am would destroy everything I worked so hard for. But today I no longer want to run away," Stekala wrote in his heartbreaking post about his coming out. "I want you all to know the real me: I am a gay man."

In the post, Stekala talked about his partner, whom he met in 2016. "He was my support, my biggest fan and my home." The two had kept their relationship secret to protect themselves from the public pressure that was still on the topic.

tragic stroke of fate

In November of last year, Stekala's partner died unexpectedly, leaving the athlete with a broken heart. "Every day without him is a struggle, but also a reminder of how infinitely I loved and how much I was loved." Stekala's words get under your skin.

Check out this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrzej Stękała (@andrzejstekala)

Despite this stroke of fate, the athlete is looking forward. "With the start of the new year, I am starting a new chapter. I no longer want to hide who I am. I am me - a man who has loved and still loves. And I know that he would have wanted me to live in harmony with myself."

Difficult circumstances in Poland

Stekala's coming out is particularly remarkable in a society known for its homophobia. In Poland, several regions have been declared so-called "LGBT-free zones" in recent years. But Stekala's courage could serve as a role model for other athletes and people who live with similar fears.

In terms of sport, Andrzej Stekala is one of the big names in Polish ski jumping. His greatest triumph was winning the bronze medals at the 2020 Ski Flying World Championships and the 2021 Nordic World Ski Championships in the team competition. In the 2020/2021 season, he also reached sixth place in the overall ranking of the Four Hills Tournament.