Navigating the world of gay fitness is often about much more than just physical transformation; it’s a journey toward mental clarity and self-discovery. My passion for health and fitness can be traced back to my own coming out story, which, like most LGBTQ people, remains a fundamental part of who I am. Growing up in a coastal town in Australia, my life revolved around sports—notably rugby league. It was my everything, my biggest passion, and the beginning of a journey that made me the man I am today.
Every Saturday was spent on the field, and every week was spent in preparation. But as my teammates talked about girls, I felt the disconnect growing. Coming out changed everything; I no longer felt welcome on my team because of the things I heard in the locker room. Those moments cemented a false belief that a gay man couldn’t play rugby—or any sport. I eventually stopped playing altogether, seeing my social circle shrink as my free time grew. Wanting to stay active, I began training myself with weights and running, finding a new sanctuary in the gym.
For many in the Woofd pack, the iron is where we find our strongest selves. Once you’ve found that mental spark, you can channel that energy into staying sexy and fit year-round, or even focusing on specific goals like building bigger arms to match your new confidence. 🐺✨
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Running everyday was my chance to get away. I’d run along the beach, listening to the ocean and, in those moments, nothing else mattered. My evening hours were spent researching training and fitness websites on my slow, 56k internet. Fitness had become my ultimate escape from the realities and struggles of coming out and being true to myself.
As I moved out of family’s home to Sydney, this passion stayed with me as although I stopped playing competitively I still continued to train, and eventually this assisted me in my return to rugby. Finally, both of my passions came together. Getting back into rugby grew my confidence in myself as an athlete. I no longer believed that my sexuality meant I had no place on the rugby field. I’d finally found comfort in my own skin.
This newfound confidence led me to leave the comforts and familiarity of Sydney and to further my rugby career in Canada, at which point I began training out of the Canadian Winter Sports Institute alongside and with some of the greatest minds in sports.
Through hard work and countless hours on the gym floor, I was eventually given the opportunity to defer my skills away from rugby and try out for the Australian bobsleigh team. Given my years of rugby and continued training, I was fortunate enough to make the team.
Again, my life became immersed in training. Looking back, I can realize how the years lead up to that exact moment. I would spend the next few years traveling around North America, competing and training with some of the sports best athletes and coaches.
The struggles had all been worth it to be able to represent my country. Each day that I trained and competed, not only my own ability grew but my knowledge of the industry I love.
Now, living in London, I’m about to embark on the next stage of my life in Fitness and focus my time on training people. I’m going to ensure my passion is passed on to others, and I hope its brings the same joys to them as it did to me.
The difference now is that I don’t shy away from my sexuality, nor is fitness something I use to escape the reality of being a gay man. Instead, I do it because I love it—and because I can use it to inspire others. I want to use the knowledge I was gifted to encourage others to share this passion for health and fitness. My goal is to inspire young gay teens struggling with their place on the field, showing them through my own experiences that they can excel both on and off the pitch without compromising who they are.
