“The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.” This is the text that Ralph Schumacher49, a former Formula 1 driver like his brother Michael, has entrusted a post on Instagram, accompanied by a photo that portrays him hugging a man – who according to the German press is called Etienne – in front of a sunset. The post was shared by his 22-year-old son David, who commented with touching words: “I am very happy that you have finally found someone who makes you feel truly comfortable and safe – writes David, also a driver, in the Gran Turismo category – It does not matter if it is a man or a woman. I support you 100%, dad, and wish you all the best! Congratulations!”.
Coming Out Stories
The shot portrays two men embracing, against the romantic backdrop of a sunset. Ralf Schumacher, 49, who was married to model and TV host Cora Brinkmann for 15 years, posted it on his Instagram profile, accompanying it with the message “the most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side, with whom you can share everything”. The former Formula 1 driver, brother of Michael, has thus made his relationship with Etienne official. From the marriage with Cora was born David, now 22, also a driver, but of Gran Turismo cars, with Mercedes. The latter was among the first to share the post, commenting on it with touching words: “I’m very happy that you’ve finally found someone who makes you feel truly comfortable and safe. It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. I support you 100%, dad!”. Proof that, at least in some areas of sport, homosexuality is less and less of a taboo. Shàcarra Richardon, an American who won the 100-meter world championship in Budapest last year and is a candidate to win gold at the Paris Games, defines herself as ‘quuer’, or bisexual. In March, Australian soccer player Josh Cavallo, who came out as gay in 2021, asked his partner Leighton Morrell to marry him, choosing the pitch of his club, Adelaide United, as the location. One of the first to come out in 2012 was Megan Rapinoe, captain of the US women’s national soccer team, Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, as well as a feminist activist, at the forefront of the fight for LGBT+ rights. Staying in soccer, last year it was the turn of Jacub Jankto, a midfielder from the Czech Republic who played in Italy last season for Cagliari. In boxing, Irma Testa’s coming out caused a stir after becoming world champion in the up to 57-kilogram category. A world tennis legend, but also a pioneer in breaking down a wall, was Martina Navratilova, after her coming out in the early 80s, shortly after the other tennis star, Billie Jean King, who was however forced to expose herself publicly after the financial lawsuit brought against her by her partner, Marilyn Barnett.