# @illiniswimdive on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg6hBZyhRcK
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/19279887-illiniswimdive-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/eb6f91902c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2018-03-29T16:45:21.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Illinois Swim & Dive (@IlliniSwimDive) — https://gondola.cc/IlliniSwimDive

## Caption

Great to have you on the team, Manny! #Repost pannymollard with get_repost
・・・
I’ve always been open with my sexuality and I have always been surrounded by accepting coaches and teammates throughout my diving career who have helped me get to where I wanted to be. But, I still have had troubles with my myself being gay. I strongly believe that focusing on athletes skills, aspirations and work ethic is valuable to their development regardless of sexual orientation or identity. Now, having athletes who identify as LGBTQ just as I do, I am quickly learning the importance of having such a support system but also the impact diversity and inclusion has on a team.

The University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign department of intercollegiate athletes has made diversity and inclusion an underlying theme of the athletic programs. We recently teamed up with You Can Play, a project to help create safe environments for all in sport, by creating a video to show our support to their cause {linked below and in my bio}. I am continuing to work with projects like this one to continue to promote an open, respectful and accepting environment for my athletes to ensure a safe and progressive society for all. I don’t just want to be a diving coach I want to help my athletes as much as I can to lead them to a happy and fulfilling life after sport and to do my part for a more accepting society.

Go Illini!! Check out our video, might see someone you know ;) http://www.youcanplayproject.org/videos/entry/university-of-illinois-you-can-play

illiniathletics 
#fightingillini #gay #lgbtq #sports #youcanplay #illinois #fitness #diving #gayathletes #progress #progressive #diversity #inclusion #gym

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 85
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

diving, gay, inclusion, gym, repost, gayathletes, progress, youcanplay, fightingillini, progressive, sports, lgbtq, illinois, fitness, diversity

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