Polish ski jumper Andrzej Stękała came out as gay following the death of his longtime partner, Damian.
Stękała, 29 — a member of the Polish national team and bronze medalist at the 2020 Ski Flying World Championships — shared a slideshow of photos and videos via Instagram from the duration of their relationship alongside his heartfelt message.
“I want you all to know the real me. I am gay,” Stękała wrote in the Wednesday, January 1 post. “For years I’ve hidden this from the world — from you, from the media, and sometimes even from myself.”
He continued, “In 2016, I met the person who changed my life. He’s been my rock, my support, my biggest supporter. Together we shared life, passions, joys and difficult moments. 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.”
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Stękała revealed that Damian died in November, but did not disclose a cause of death.
“I can’t describe the pain I’ve felt,” he wrote. “The world we built together fell into pieces. Everyday without him is a struggle, but also a reminder of how endlessly I loved and how deeply I was loved.”
With the turning of the calendar, Stękała vowed to enter “a new chapter.”
“I don’t want to hide who I am anymore,” he shared. “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.”
Stękała added, “Please understand and respect. My story is a tale of love that deserves light, not shadow.”
The athlete thanked his support system of “family and friends” for giving him “the courage to open up.”
The post concluded, “For the rest of my days, I will carry his name in my heart.”
Many of Stękała’s friends and members of the skiing community left their supportive comments on his post.
“Stay strong Andrzej💪 heartbreaking to read about your loss🥀,” Norwegian world champion Halvor Egner Granerud wrote. “Hope your brave 2025 will be a good year for you, filled with the freedom of not hiding who you are. All the best wishes 💐.”
Sondre Ringen, a Norwegian ski jumper, wrote, “You’re brave and strong Andrzej ❤️ Wish you all the best amongst this tragic loss💔.”
“A beautiful, albeit heartbreaking, story about just love,” journalist Krzysztof Jankowski Jankes commented. “Thank you for opening up to us.”
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