Winter Olympics' openly gay athlete: I want Vladimir Putin to get to know me

Winter Olympics' openly gay athlete: I want Vladimir Putin to get to know me

For Blake Skjellerup, Sochi 2014 is an opportunity for sporting success and breaking Russia's 'oppressive' anti-gay laws Blake Skjellerup came out as gay after competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images If, as he hopes, Blake Skjellerup becomes the first openly gay athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, he will travel to Russia on a twin mission: to strive, with every ounce of his being, to make the podium â€" and to do everything he can to throw the spotlight on what he calls Russia's "oppressive" anti-gay propaganda law. Skjellerup, a 28-year-old speed skater from New Zealand who found the confidence to come out after competing in the 2010... WN.com - Articles related to Soccer star Robbie Rogers dating Hollywood producer Greg Berlanti