Trey Cunningham found those initial phone calls to be incredibly challenging. Despite his experience in keeping calm under pressure on the track, facing the moment to tell his family and friends about his sexual orientation was daunting; he was drenched in sweat as he waited. The 20-year-old athlete described it as the “scariest thing I’ve ever done.”
However, Cunningham proceeded with the conversation, a decision driven by his belief in vocalizing goals for them to become tangible. He shared, “We say our goals out loud. If there’s something we want to achieve, we say it. Putting something in words makes it real.”
While Cunningham joins a group of elite athletes who have openly discussed their sexuality, he stands out as one of the few active male athletes comfortable enough to come out. Reflecting on the past five years since coming out, he acknowledged the unspoken understanding present among many individuals who have not disclosed their sexual orientation.
Cunningham’s journey of self-discovery began in college. Initially preoccupied with typical teenage pursuits and aspirations, he gradually started delving into his identity. There was no sudden epiphany but rather a gradual realization that felt right to him.
