Moving words

After death of partner! Ski jumper comes out

Andrzej Stekala has admitted his homosexuality in an emotional Instagram post.(Bild: GEPA)

Polish ski jumper Andrzej Stekala has admitted his homosexuality in an emotional Instagram post. His love for his partner, who died in November, encouraged the 29-year-old to take this step. "I want you to really get to know me. I am gay," says Stekala. 

"I no longer want to hide who I am. I am me - a man who has loved and still loves. And I know that he would want me to live in peace with myself. Please understand and respect that. My story deserves light, not shadow," Stekala writes next to his Instagram post, which shows him together with his deceased partner.

Tense situation in Poland
The professional ski jumper had been living in secret for years, as he emphasizes, above all "in fear that I could lose what I had worked so hard for". In Poland, the situation for the LGBTI+ community in general remains tense, as NGOs such as Amnesty International have also emphasized. 

Things are also not going according to plan for Stekala in sport at the moment. He has not managed to secure a place in the Polish squad for the Four Hills Tournament. In the current season, he has not yet been able to collect any successes in the World Cup. His career highlights to date are a bronze medal in the team competition at the 2021 World Championships and at the 2020 Ski Flying World Championships. 

His team colleagues and competitors were among those who reacted to his emotional message. The Norwegian overall winner of the 2023 Four Hills Tournament, Halvor Egner Granerud, wrote: "Stay strong Andrzej. It breaks my heart to read about your loss. I hope your brave 2025 will be a good year for you, filled with the freedom of not hiding who you are. All best wishes."