Polish Ski Jumper Andrzej Stekala Comes Out as Gay in Message Mourning the Death of His Partner
"For years, I have lived in the shadow of fear," Stekala wrote in an emotional tribute to his late partner of eight years
AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski
Second placed Andrzej Stekala of Poland celebrates during the award ceremony at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Zakopane, Poland, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.Polish ski jumper Andrezj Stekala penned a heartbreaking post on social media mourning his partner of eight years, who died in November.
Stekala, 29, came out as gay in the emotional post on Jan. 1, which included sweet photos of the couple together and with friends and family.
"I wondered for a long time if I would ever find the strength to write these words," Stekala began in his caption, translated from Polish.
"For years, I have lived in the shadow of fear, in disguise, fearing that who I really am might destroy me."
"What I am going to write now is the hardest thing in my life," Stekala continued. "For years I have lived in secret, fearing that who I am might cross everything I’ve worked so hard for. Today I don't want to run away anymore."
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JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty
Andrzej Stekala at the Ski Jumping Team Competition HS130 on Jan, 23, 2021The athlete shared that he met "the person who changed my life" in 2016 and said his partner has been "my rock" and "my biggest supporter" during their relationship. "Together we shared life, passions, joys and difficult moments," Stekala wrote.
"He was my everything, my home, my heart. We loved in silence, hiding our love from the world to protect what was most important to us."
Stekala said that on Jan. 1, he's starting a "new chapter" of his life. "I don't want to hide who I am anymore. I am myself — a man who loved and still loves. And I know that he would want me to continue living in peace with myself," he wrote.
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Stekala thanked the friends and family who have "been there" for him throughout the years and said, "Thanks to you I find the courage to open up."
"Wishing you all love and courage for the coming year," he concluded in the post.
Stekala won a bronze medal with the Poland ski jumping team in the world championships in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, he also won an individual bronze in the World Cup in Poland.
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