Conor McDermott-Mostowy, a rising star in speed-skating, has come out... but in a more subtle way than perhaps what we might be accustomed to from public figures: By just being himself. McDermott-Mostowy told Outsports that he's never had to hide who he is, comes from a supportive family and, yet, has never felt like he had to wear his sexual orientation on his sleeve. Instead, there are hints on his Instagram posts — though McDermott-Mostowy himself might shrug off the idea that he's suggesting and instead say he's just being himself. In fact, Outsports explains that when the topic of being an openly gay athlete comes up, "he's instead been happy to answer any questions, just be who he is, and always figured that if a reporter asked him about it, he'd tell the truth." But where the sports world is concerned, misconceptions about gay athletes are partly why he held his tongue. The misperception that gay athletes aren't as good sportsmen as straight cisgender men was somewhat of a hindrance, as McDermott-Mostowy explains, "I think I've kind of always had that at the back of my mind. "I don't want to talk about being gay, because there's a stereotype that gay guys aren't athletic, and I don't want that to be held against me or used to justify a bad result. "I've been uncomfortable with that. But I feel like at this point, no one can say anything." Emerging as one of the top speed skaters, McDermott-Mostowy was the United States national champion in both the 1000-meter and the mass start at the U.S. Open National Championships earlier this month. He earned a bronze medal and set personal records in the 1500-meter and the 1000-meter. He said he was so excited about the latter, in which he bettered his previous personal-best time, that he unexpectedly let out the "F-word," which rang throughout the arena as he crossed the finish line. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍??⛸️ (?️: Kevin Schattenkirk @kschatt13, ?: Conor McDermott-Mostowy / Instagram / @conor.mm)

Conor McDermott-Mostowy, a rising star in speed-skating, has come out... but in a more subtle way than perhaps what we might be accustomed to from public figures: By just being himself. McDermott-Mostowy told Outsports that he's never had to hide who he is, comes from a supportive family and, yet, has never felt like he had to wear his sexual orientation on his sleeve. Instead, there are hints on his Instagram posts — though McDermott-Mostowy himself might shrug off the idea that he's suggesting and instead say he's just being himself. In fact, Outsports explains that when the topic of being an openly gay athlete comes up, "he's instead been happy to answer any questions, just be who he is, and always figured that if a reporter asked him about it, he'd tell the truth." But where the sports world is concerned, misconceptions about gay athletes are partly why he held his tongue. The misperception that gay athletes aren't as good sportsmen as straight cisgender men was somewhat of a hindrance, as McDermott-Mostowy explains, "I think I've kind of always had that at the back of my mind. "I don't want to talk about being gay, because there's a stereotype that gay guys aren't athletic, and I don't want that to be held against me or used to justify a bad result. "I've been uncomfortable with that. But I feel like at this point, no one can say anything." Emerging as one of the top speed skaters, McDermott-Mostowy was the United States national champion in both the 1000-meter and the mass start at the U.S. Open National Championships earlier this month. He earned a bronze medal and set personal records in the 1500-meter and the 1000-meter. He said he was so excited about the latter, in which he bettered his previous personal-best time, that he unexpectedly let out the "F-word," which rang throughout the arena as he crossed the finish line. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍??⛸️ (?️: Kevin Schattenkirk @kschatt13, ?: Conor McDermott-Mostowy / Instagram / @conor.mm)