Photography/Twitter @jorgemarmor
Peru.- Jorge Luis Martínez won the bronze medal in the speed skating of the Pan American Games Lima 2019, but hung a much more valuable award by declaring himself openly gay in front of the world after the competition.
Martínez celebrated his bronze by waving the Flag of Mexico with one hand and in the other, that of the LGBT+ community. His joy was no less, as he became the first openly gay Mexican medalist.
“I’m gay and I’m very proud to be able to say it,” he said before the continental joust to GQ magazine. “If I can add to that message of equality, fairness, inclusion and give people the prospect that any kind of person, with any kind of sexual preference can be a successful person and achieve their dreams, because I will do it when I have the opportunity and why I’m born to do it.”
Colombian Pedro Causil became the monarch of the speed test at 300 meters against time by stopping the clock in 24,701 and Venezuelan Jhoan Guzmán took silver with a time of 24,720.
Meanwhile, the silver medalist in the World Cup stopped the time in 24,777 seconds to claim third place. So he took advantage of his continental podium to send a message of inclusion to the world.
“People don’t know that maybe a top executive of a transnational company is gay, so I think it’s important for people to know. who is an ordinary person who overcomes, achieves his dreams and that doesn’t have to be a way to label or cross out, or anything like that. So if I can join and I have the maturity to be able to do it and I feel much more comfortable with that, because I’m going to do it,” he told the magazine.
In this Friday’s race on the Coast Verde San Miguel track, the Mexican had his entire arsenal to try to take the gold medal, but had in the Colombian Causil the best timekeeper of the contest, which finally ended with a better time in the despondent Ce.
Martinez was the forerunner to leave because of his status as world runner-up, so knowing that he had to do a better time and try to climb to the top of the podium, he did not speculate and gave the maximum on the court.
The Colombian was the last in the departure and quickly sought as long as possible to crown the appointment. He finally stopped the clock at 24,701 for the gold medal. Venezuelan Guzmán had been first in his start and had to make a better time.
It was then that after the historic result, the skater sent a message of inclusion and pride particularly to other athletes who, because of the taboos, have not dared to take the step he took.
“Love is the only thing that grows when you distribute” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I have only received displays of affection THANK YOU! ??? pic.twitter.com/E9Wfqunbwt
— Jorge Luis (@jorgemarmor) August 9, 2019
“I think it’s going to be a part of it because obviously I’m not the only gay sportsman in Mexico, but just no one sets it or makes it public. Rather, I think it’s going to be a part of it and society is going to take it well, hopefully it will inspire many who want to do it and something stops them,” he said.
“I’ve had a couple of talks with some of them (gay athletes), and the truth is that they’re very happy, they know it’s going to bring pure positive things, both for sport, for me and for skating, so they’ve supported me, all of whom I’ve talked to ” whether or not the community has been very supportive,” he said.
Source: NoEmbargo
