{"id":656998,"date":"2026-11-07T22:42:49","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T06:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=656998"},"modified":"2026-11-07T22:42:49","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T06:42:49","slug":"retired-swimmer-michael-gunning-earns-sports-personality-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/retired-swimmer-michael-gunning-earns-sports-personality-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Retired Swimmer Michael Gunning Earns Sports Personality Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Retired Swimmer Michael Gunning Earns Sports Personality Award<\/strong><\/p>\n

Retired swimmer Michael Gunning<\/strong> was awarded Sports Personality of the Year at the UK\u2019s Ethnicity Awards in October<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gunning was recognized in the public awards section<\/a>, which highlighted online influencers, broadcasters and public figures. He earned the award for his work that includes presenting for the BBC and ITV.<\/p>\n

Gunning has served as an ambassador for the British Elite Athletes Association, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, both in Paris in 2024 and upcoming in 2028. He was recognized for his ability to use his platform \u201cto champion equality far beyond the field of play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to dedicate this award to anyone who has felt alone, anyone who has felt like they don’t fit in, because I’m sure that many people in this room, we sometimes feel like we have to dim our light, that it can’t always be ourselves, that we have to try and be normal,\u201d Gunning said in his acceptance speech. \u201cWhat is normal? I am so proud to be here. I wouldn’t be here today if I was normal. I’m so proud to be gay. I’m so proud to be a person of colour. I’m so proud to be camp and flamboyant.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll those things the bullies used to call me, because now they are my superpower. I will continue to use the platform that I have to fight for LGBT rights. No one should be prosecuted for being who they are in the country that they’re in, and black people can swim and I will keep helping make swimming available to everyone.”<\/p>\n