British Olympic hopeful Tom Bosworth comes out as gay

Olympic hopeful Tom Bosworth today came out as gay.

Bosworth, Britain’s No 1 race walker over 20km, said it was a big decision to speak publicly about his sexuality, but he did not want it to become a “distraction” in the build-up to next year’s Games in Rio.

The athlete, 25, said diver Tom Daley, who is engaged to his partner after coming out in 2013, has helped others to follow suit.

Bosworth is the first member of Team GB’s athletics squad to reveal he is gay.

He told the Victoria Derbyshire show: “Coming out is not going to change my life on a personal level. I’ve been comfortable with my sexuality and in a really happy relationship for the past four-and-a-half years but in the build-up to the Rio Olympics next year.

"I don’t want this news to become a distraction or affect those closest to me. That’s why I want to speak publicly now.

"It’s … a little scary what the reaction might be, but I do think that attitudes are changing.”