"Sport should be a safe place for absolutely everyone, and unfortunately we do see a lot of homophobia still in the locker room," said Bucsis. After years of anxiety and loneliness, the Calgary native came out to her friends and family in 2011, but kept her sexual orientation private from the athletic community for years afterward. Bucsis made a public statement, telling the world she was proud to be gay, to underscore her opposition to Russia's anti-gay laws. Bucsis struggled with her sexual orientation for years. (Anastasia Bucsis/Twitter )Since speaking out, Bucsis has become a dedicated advocate for making the sporting community a safe place for LGBTQ athletes.

Source: CBC News August 23, 2016 16:57 UTC