British 400m hurdler Seamus Derbyshire wasn’t projected to win medals on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, however within the eyes of many, he’s already received. On Monday evening, Derbyshire made his senior British staff debut, moving into the beginning blocks not simply as an athlete, however as one in every of solely three brazenly homosexual male opponents at these championships, in keeping with OutSports.
The place some athletes provide a quiet smile or salute, or stare down the observe in focus, Derbyshire dances, blows kisses and makes coronary heart indicators for the digicam, absorbing the highlight.
Seamus Derbyshire, 400 V British athlete. He has simply competed within the World Cups. “A lot of my homosexual inspiration discovered her within the music I listened to within the automobile with my mom. I by no means had referents in sport, possibly I can now be for somebody” pic.twitter.com/Iqtgtoyw5d
– Miguel Angel Garrosa (@garrosa) September 15, 2025
Derbyshire’s strikes first went viral final month on the 2025 British Championships, when he mimicked Glinda’s well-known “toss toss” from the smash-hit Broadway musical Depraved earlier than showering the digicam with kisses and a coronary heart. The clip shared to TikTok by French Olympian Rénelle Lamote garnered greater than 200,000 views, turning the 400m hurdler into an sudden star.
“@seamus you rocked it, I’m your greatest fan now,” wrote Lamote on the video. “We’d like extra personalities such as you in T&F.”
Derbyshire says the pre-race strikes aren’t scripted or carried out for any social media clout; they’re only a pure expression of who he’s, after years of battling pre-race anxiousness, and pondering, greater than as soon as, of strolling away from the game.
“Embracing my genuine self as a proud, out homosexual man has helped unlock a brand new stage of efficiency on the observe,” Derbyshire advised BBC Sport after inserting seventh in his 400mH warmth. “My coronary heart breaks, however I’m feeling proud to see how far I’ve come.”
His lead to Tokyo was almost a second off his private better of 48.42 seconds, however should you requested Derbyshire, merely with the ability to present his genuine self on the world stage, throughout the greatest race of his profession, was a gold medal in itself.
