Jonathan Hertwig-Ødegaard, Norway’s rising decathlon star, is making headlines for more than just his athletic performance.
In a recent interview with Norway’s public broadcaster NRK, the 20-year-old athlete opened up about his journey as an openly gay sportsman and why he believes being queer in athletics shouldn’t be treated as something extraordinary.
“I think it’s great that you can be a role model,” he said, “but at the same time, I hope in the long run that it doesn’t have to be necessary, and that it gets so much publicity and attention.”
Hertwig-Ødegaard explained that while visibility is important, he’s concerned about the way media and society place excessive emphasis on athletes’ sexuality, often labeling coming out as “brave” or “tough.”
“The problem is perhaps that among athletes, people talk about ‘it’s so brave and tough’ when people come forward,” he said. “I feel that there is a bit of a wrong focus, that the responsibility should not lie with individuals.”
He argued that it should be society’s responsibility—not just the individual’s—to create inclusive environments where people feel safe and comfortable being open about their sexuality, especially in competitive sports.
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Reflecting on his own experience growing up, he added, “I think it would have helped me as a young boy or young athlete. Not necessarily to have someone to look up to, but just to see that it is completely normal to be gay and be a top athlete. Because it is.”
He concluded the interview with a confident affirmation: “I’m proud and happy to be gay, and if others have an issue with my sexuality, it’s their problem.”
Just two weeks prior to this interview, Hertwig-Ødegaard turned heads at the European Athletics U23 Championships by dominating six out of ten decathlon events and achieving a personal best of 8,002 points.
He is currently ranked 81st in the world in the decathlon rankings, is a three-time Norwegian Under-20 champion, and is preparing to attend the University of Texas, where he’ll compete in NCAA athletics.
Jonathan Hertwig-Ødegaard is not only raising the bar in sports but also helping to break down barriers in the world of LGBTQ+ representation in athletics. With every hurdle he clears—both literal and symbolic—he’s proving that pride and performance go hand in hand.
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