Brian Boitano on coming out: ‘I don’t feel that I can represent the country (at Olympics) without revealing this incredible side of myself’

Brian Boitano probably never would have come out publicly as a gay man had President Barack Obama not appointed him to be a part of the US delegation to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, next month.

“This is an important moment, and to represent my country in Russia, it’s a platform that is so important for me,” the 1988 figure skating gold medalist tells the Associated Press.

Boitano’s selection is part of a pro-gay statement Obama is making to Russia which passed a controversial anti-gay propaganda law last year.

‘Our nation is at the forefront of trying to create a more tolerant public,’ Boitano said. ‘The president is kind of saying to Russia that as a strong country, we believe in this and if you don’t follow along, we will leave you behind in this thought process.’

Boitano says the reaction from the skating community since his official coming out has been very positive.

‘That feedback for me is really important, especially coming from my peers,’ he said. ‘They know how private a person I am and that this was a big move for me.’