The 2004 Olympic Floor Champ signed on as a spokesperson with I’ve Been Bullied.
Kyle Shewfelt grew-up much smaller than the other boys.
‘WIMP’, ‘Pansy’, ‘Homo’..were all words he would hear regularly, causing him to cry on occasion. At six he began gymnastics and continued to receive name calling for his choice in athletic sports. This bullying only made Kyle push harder.
He refused to be known as a wimp, so he continued training in gymnastics and forced himself to become tougher. …
If you want to help eradicate bullying, click over to Facebook photo and SHARE.
Kyle’s not gay. But suffered bullying from homophobes.
Happily, I think things are changing for the better. At least in some parts of the world.
Josh Dixon came out publicly while competing for Stanford, I think. He’s now at the USOTC in Colorado Springs commenting:
… he has not had a single negative response “in any way, shape or form.” If anything, the only homophobia he has encountered has been from within himself. He acknowledges he once felt internal pressure about being a gay man in what some label the “gay sport” of gymnastics. He didn’t want to fall into a stereotype. But he’s come to embrace it, and he says his sexual orientation now makes him stand out more at the elite level. …
Gymnastics Coaching.com 