Olympic swimmer Dan Jervis ‘in awe’ of LGBTQ community and excited for EuroGames Cardiff 2027
Jervis, who came out as gay in 2022, says the inclusive multisports event is ‘important’ for both Wales and the UK; he recently spoke with Michael Gunning at a celebration of Pride in sports; panel of athletes and coaches say EuroGames Cardiff 2027 will be ‘gamechanger’…
Two-time Olympian Dan Jervis has spoken of his happiness three years after coming out publicly as gay, and that seeing a major event like EuroGames would likely have helped him accept his sexuality at a younger age.
The 29-year-old was the special guest at a ‘Pride Gamechanger’ evening held in London’s Canary Wharf at the end of Pride Month.
Bringing together LGBTQ people and allies with an interest in inclusive sports, the conversations were geared towards EuroGames Cardiff 2027, which will be the first event of its kind ever to be held in the UK.
Jervis, who grew up in a mining village in south Wales, was already a double Commonwealth Games medalist in swimming and had been a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics when he spoke in the media for the first time about being a gay man.
A major inspiration in his decision to come out was fellow swimmer Michael Gunning, who had shared his story on a reality TV dating show in 2018 before going on to set national records for Jamaica.
Gunning was the ‘Pride Gamechanger’ host and helped to introduce attendees to EuroGames, which is set to attract more than 5,000 athletes from across the continent to the Welsh capital to compete in at least 30 different sports, and enjoy an extensive cultural programme.
He asked Jervis how such an event, with its focus on LGBTQ inclusion, might have impacted him as a teenager.
“It would have been pretty big because I’m from quite a small community,” he said. “Seeing a Games like this, with athletes from around the world who were the same as me, it would have inspired me so much more.
“And it would have added a lot of ease. I would have been like, ‘it’s alright for me to do the job that I love and be 100% Dan doing it.’”
He explained how uncertainties related to family, faith and sports made it more difficult for him to be authentic and feel comfortable.
However, after coming out publicly midway through his 20s, he said the reaction was “amazing” and that he feels “fortunate” to have had such strong support.
‘EuroGames 2027 will show off Wales and Cardiff!’
Jervis believes hosting EuroGames can send out a powerful message about Cardiff, which is now considered to be one of Europe’s most LGBTQ-friendly cities. The urban area has a population of around half a million.
“When I was younger, I didn’t really see any gay people until I was about 15,” he said.
“Now I’m in the world and I love it. I’m in awe of the LGBTQ community, I really am!
“EuroGames 2027 is important because we don’t want Cardiff just to be a city that talks about inclusivity in sport. We want it to be a city that actually puts money into having inclusive sport and investing in it.
“For my younger self, that would have helped me a lot.”
Jervis is a multiple British national champion and earned the last of his titles in 2024, earning him a spot at his second Olympics in Paris.
He decided earlier this year to hang up his goggles and is now pursuing opportunities in media and presenting, while also enjoying time off to travel.
He says Gunning, whose career out of the pool as an event host and personality continues to blossom, remains a role model.
“Michael was one of the first people that I messaged [when ready to come out]. I knew he was very proud and a very good swimmer,” Jervis told the audience.
“I found out I could really rely on Michael, but he’s also someone I could look up to. It made my coming out, and my life, a lot easier, knowing that I wasn’t the only one. Sometimes it can feel like that in sports.”
He says his sponsors also welcomed his personal news, and he’s now hoping to see similar enthusiasm from businesses and brands around supporting EuroGames Cardiff 2027.
“Wales is genuinely such a beautiful country,” he added. “There’s going to be a lot of people watching this competition because it’s going to show off Wales and Cardiff. And that’s what we want.
“As an athlete who is in the LGBTQ community myself, I just know how much this can achieve for us and help the next generation. That’s what we’re all here to do.”
To learn more about EuroGames Cardiff 2027, visit the official website where you can sign up for email updates.
Interested in sponsorship and partnership opportunities? Email the team at info@pridesports.cymru.
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