Gareth Thomas Retires: Rugby Star Was World's First Openly Gay Player (PHOTOS)

Gareth Thomas, the Welsh rugby player who became the world's first openly gay professional male athlete in a team sport after coming out in 2009, stunned fans by announcing he is leaving the sport for good Tuesday.

As the AFP is reporting, the 37-year-old Thomas, who switched codes to play for rugby league outfit Crusaders two years ago, came to the decision after realizing he could no longer "give 100 percent" to the sport. "I have listened to and discussed this decision with many of my family and close friends," Thomas said in a statement. "My mind has told me that the time to retire is now...this is a sad day but I know that my time has come to an end as a player. I do not know what lies ahead, but I feel the challenge of something different excites me more than another year of rugby. My passion for the amazing game will never end or leave me, however."

Thomas had been due to play for Wales against England in the Gillette Four Nations Series on Saturday, according to reports.

Though he hoped the revelations over his sexual orientation would not define his career ("I am a rugby player and first and foremost I am a man," he reportedly said in 2009), Thomas will no doubt continue to be viewed as a pioneer in what has been traditionally considered a macho sport. Thomas' legacy also seems poised to get the cinematic treatment, with Academy Award-nominated actor Mickey Rourke believed to have expressed an interest in portraying the burly athlete onscreen.

In addition to Thomas, take a look at some other noteworthy athletes who are openly gay below:

Comments

[Cristancho]

07:32 AM on 10/28/2011

I don't know why what compels me to scroll down to the comments after reading a decent piece on human courage. I'm disappointed by the ignorance and disconnect I see in what some other readers are allowed to post.

[Nathan Jay Russell]

01:48 PM on 10/27/2011

Again, there is no Transgender representation demonstrating repeatedly that the T doesn't fit with the LGB. LGB is about who those people choose to sleep with. T is about who a person is. I understand it would be problematic to have a transitioned person in professional sports but it has been done, Renee in professional tennis.. I was hoping this article would introduce me to another Trans pioneer.

[SvrWx]

05:20 AM on 10/27/2011

Why did this have a tag of "Olympics"under the link?

[RCnDC]

12:12 AM on 10/27/2011

Yuuuummy!

[JTyroler]

12:12 AM on 10/27/2011

I only know Billy Bean from the LGBTQ version of "I've Got a Secret" that was on a few years ago. It was a pretty good game show.

[Seaniebhoy]

07:11 PM on 10/26/2011

Rugby supporters are very evolved...had this been football I'm not so sure his story would have such a happy ending..Justin Fashanu sadly springs to mind.

[slong1118]

04:09 PM on 10/26/2011

Him coming out was just to get attention....

[William Muller]

04:32 PM on 10/26/2011

And you wonder why you have ZERO fans.

[slong1118]

06:45 PM on 10/26/2011

why? just because I'm being honest? I mean... who says he didn't?

[slong1118]

06:47 PM on 10/26/2011

Look... I'm just being honest, man. I think he's trying to milk it for all it's worth.

[William Muller]

03:46 PM on 10/26/2011

How sad that this list isn't any longer. Gay kids need lots more role models and could cut down on suicides.
In Canada another 15-year old gay kid died recently for being bullied.
This 90-second rant from a Canadian TV show says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh1jNAZHKIw&feature=player_embedded

[GSR]

03:30 PM on 10/26/2011

Gareth Thomas was not the first professional footballer to come out. Sydney professional Rugby League Player Ian Roberts came out as a young footballer in 1995
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Roberts_(rugby_league)

[outloud]

03:22 PM on 10/26/2011

Mickey Rourke? Say it ain't so. Isn't he about 50 years too old?

I don't want to see Mickey playing gay for pay.

[Tina N Thompson]

02:35 PM on 10/26/2011

If this is a list of LGBT sports stars, why no transgendered athletes in the list?

Historically, few LGBT athletes endured as much withering criticism as Dr. Renee Richards. Perhaps Erik Schinegger,

Today, golfer Mianne Bagger, golfer Lana Lawless, track and field's Shanti Sounderajan, and Canadian biker Michelle Dumaresq are active.

Furthermore, Dumaresq claims that some 110 stealth transpeople already competing at Olympian levels.

Yet you couldn't highlight any?

LGB teeny little T. As usual.

Michelle Dumaresq is correct about the 110 stealth transpeople already competing at Olympian levels

[Contact1972]

06:26 PM on 10/26/2011

You bring up an important point.

[Tigerama]

02:16 PM on 10/26/2011

Aside from being called a MICK in this thread, of all things (really?!), I'm getting pretty down on some of the comments.

SO glad that a lot of you never had to deal with this - but a lot of us as kids had no gay role models in the slightest and seeing public figures come out does wonders for how "normal" you think you are.

Get off your high horse about whether it's our business or not - he made it public, so there it is. And there's probably SCORES of kids who went, oh the rugger is gay? Maybe it's okay if I am, too.

[Contact1972]

02:56 PM on 10/26/2011

Agreed!

[ryantherusskie]

02:14 PM on 10/26/2011

I believe former NBA player John Amaechi came out while still playing (using the term "playing" loosely). And have there been any other NBA players who have yet?

[Tigerama]

02:13 PM on 10/26/2011

Dear mods, and anyone with a brain stem:

Are you telling me that this stuff actually flies around here?!

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Thanks mick. Now go have a potato and about 20 pints of Guinness.

[dennissinned]

02:13 PM on 10/26/2011

Jason Statham should portray him, hands down.

[Contact1972]

02:56 PM on 10/26/2011

YES! Also smoking hot!