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Andrzej Stekala
Courtesy of Andrzej Stekala/InstagramPolish ski jumper Andrzej Stękała came out as gay after the death of his long-term partner, Damian.
Stękała, 29 — member of the Polish national team and bronze medalist at the 2020 World Ski Flying Championships — shared a slideshow of photos and videos via Instagram from the duration of their relationship along with his heartfelt message.
“I want you all to know the real me. I’m gay,” wrote Stękała on Wednesday, January 1. “For years I hid it from the world—from you, from the media, and sometimes even from myself.
He continued: “In 2016 I met a person who changed my life. He was 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.”
Ralf Schumacher came out as gay and shared a photo of his partner on social networks. “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner next to you, with whom you can share everything,” Schumacher, 49, wrote in German on Instagram on Sunday, July 14. His caption was paired with (…)
Stękała revealed that Damian died in November, but did not disclose the cause of death.
“I cannot describe the pain I felt,” he wrote. “The world we built together fell apart. Every day without him is a struggle, but also a reminder of how endlessly I loved and how deeply I was loved.”
With the turn of the calendar, Stękała pledged to enter a “new chapter”.
“I don’t want to hide who I am anymore,” he said. “I am myself – the man who loved and still loves. And I know he would want me to continue living in peace with myself.”
Stękała added: “Please understand and respect. My story is a story of love that deserves light, not shadow.”
Andrzej Stekala
Bjoern Reichert/NordicFocus/Getty ImagesThe athlete thanked his support system of “family and friends” for giving him the “courage to open up”.
The post concluded: “I will carry his name in my heart for the rest of my days.”
Many of Stękał’s friends and members of the ski community left supportive comments on his post.
“Stay strong Andrzej💪 heartbreaking to read about your loss🥀,” Norwegian world champion Halvor Egner Granerud he wrote “I hope your brave year 2025 will be a good year for you, full of freedom to not hide who you are. All the best 💐.”
Sondre Ringena Norwegian ski jumper, wrote: “You are brave and strong Andrzej ❤️ I wish you all the best amidst this tragic loss💔.”
“A beautiful if heartbreaking story of righteous love,” Journalist Krzysztof Jankowski Jankes he commented. “Thank you for opening up to us.
