Kickboxing winner thought he’d be dropped from team when he came out
Christopher Price has gone on to win nine world kickboxing titles
By Steve Brown
Multi-world kickboxing winner Christopher Price was worried he would be dropped from the squad when he came out.
The 26 year old has been kickboxing since 2007 and has racked up nine world kickboxing titles – as well as two Irish opens and four British ones – but Price admitted he thought he would struggle for acceptance in the male dominated sport.
However when Price, who fights for Wales and team GB, came out as gay when he was 21 back in 2012, he recalled how people claimed he only kickboxed to get close to other men.
But luckily for him, his sexuality has done nothing but move his career in the right direction after winning two more titles since coming out and being crowned Mr Gay Wales 2018.
And the kickboxers hopes he can inspire and encourage other LGBT+ sportspeople to come out.
He told Wales Online: “When I first decided to come out, it was difficult.
“I didn’t known whether to come out as it is such a men dominated environment. I didn’t know what would happen, how it would affect my chances of travelling, as being gay is frowned upon in countries such as Russia.
“It did worry me. I was also worried the squad would drop me because of that.
“But a lot of people are still hidden so I am hoping this platform will help them realise they don’t have to hide, that they can be themselves.”