Former Test bowler Heath Davis has come forward to reveal his sexuality for the first time in hopes that younger generations of sports enthusiasts and fans will feel encouraged to speak their own truth.

While the world of sport presents a unique opportunity for athletes around the world to share new perspectives and be united in sporting codes that are universal in their appeal, the fact remains that when it comes to inclusiveness, there is still much to be desired. . It’s a problem that’s particularly apparent in men’s sport, where stereotypes of masculinity and stoicism have continued to pervade locker room conversations and competition. But in recent years, more and more athletes have come forward to share their truth about sex, challenging these stereotypes and showing younger generations that it’s OK to be discovered on the sports field.

Now adding his name to an ever-growing list is that of former New Zealand Test player Heath Davis, who became the country’s first men’s international cricketer to speak publicly about being gay. Now 50, many will know Davis for his intimidating pace on the pitch, as he played five Tests and 11 One-Day Internationals for the Black Caps between 1994 and 1997 as a bowler.

In an episode of the documentary series, Scratched: The Lost Sports Legends of AotearoaDavis went public with his sexuality for the first time, joining former England wicketkeeper Steven Davies who became the first international men’s cricketer to come out publicly in 2011.

As Davis said The spin-off, it was during his first tour of England in 1994 that he began to discover himself, when he had already told his mother that he was gay from an early age. “I went to a few bars and such in private, just to see what life was like. You are on the other side of the world, no one will know you,” he said.

But as Davis expressed, he left that part of his life solely to international competitions and didn’t let it follow him home because fear of judgment was a burden on his shoulders. “There was a lot of that, keeping your personal life separate,” he added.

Davis guessed that some of his teammates suspected him of being gay before he came out in 1997, but he says no one ever asked him about it, or made him feel anything but. accepted and a valued member of the team. It was when Davis began his first relationship at 27 and received a contract from Auckland that he left Wellington and introduced himself to his new team manager, who passed it on to his team members . As he recalls, it “didn’t seem like such a big deal.”

New Zealand gay and bisexual men are the most likely to keep their sexuality a secret, in both youth and adult sports, according to an international study on homophobia in sport. According to the report, which was released in May 2022, these men attribute the decisions to fears of intimidation from teammates and discrimination from coaches and officials. As The Guardian reports, more than half of all study participants think team sport is more homophobic than the rest of New Zealand society, while gay men are far more likely to believe this than anyone else. who else, at 69%.

As The spin-offWriter and producer Madeleine Chapman suggests that despite waves of change in society at large, homophobic attitudes in sport are still rampant. However, as more athletes like Davis come forward to share their story, it is hoped that others will be encouraged to do the same and that a more accepting culture of the sport will prevail.