On 5 November 2026, professional beach volleyball athlete Alex Ukkelberg uploaded an Instagram Reel in which he announced that he is gay. In the short video he described himself as “thankful” for his sexuality, emphasizing that living without pretense has made him a better person on and off the sand. Though the clip marks his first public discussion of sexual orientation, Ukkelberg has been out to his family and teammates for more than a decade. The decision to share the news on a mainstream platform reflects a growing belief that LGBTQ+ visibility can empower younger athletes who face similar doubts.
From small-town sports kid to proud professional
Ukkelberg grew up in Battle Lake, Minnesota, a community of fewer than 800 residents where difference was often equated with disadvantage. He excelled in basketball, football, baseball and track, convinced that elite athletics meant a straight identity. “There was no way I could be gay. Is there?” he says in the Reel, echoing the internal dialogue that haunted him through high school and early college. The pressure to conform contributed to several years of poor mental health, a struggle he finally chose not to sacrifice in pursuit of his sport. After completing a bachelor’s in kinesiology and a master’s in sport-and-exercise psychology at Grand View University, he turned professional and won the 2025 AVP Laguna Beach Open with partner Logan Webber.
Choosing authenticity over silence
When Ukkelberg finally spoke the words “I’m gay” aloud, he described the moment as “really hard”. Yet the relief of naming his truth outweighed the discomfort of potential backlash. He explains that he refused to compartmentalize his identity, deciding instead to “figure out how to be both” athlete and openly gay. This resolve led him to label his sexuality a source of empathy: “I’m thankful that I’m gay—it’s made me a better, more empathetic person.” By putting his story online, he hopes to dismantle the myth that high-performance sport demands heteronormativity.
Community response and broader impact
Fellow beach-volleyball pro Charlie Siragusa quickly praised Ukkelberg, noting that the athlete “honours all pieces of his identity” and consistently offers new perspectives on and off the court. Both men belong to a private chat called GayVP, a network of openly LGBTQ+ players that includes Kyle Friend, Tim Brewster, Leo Dillier, Japanese star Rui Takahashi, Olympian Justin Lui, and former US captain Erik Shoji, who publicly identified as queer in 2025. The group uses its platform to promote inclusion within the AVP tour, where social media followers often determine sponsorship opportunities. Ukkelberg’s candidness adds another high-profile voice to a growing chorus calling for equitable representation in all levels of volleyball.
Looking ahead
While Ukkelberg admits a lingering urge to delete the Reel, he also recognizes that his younger self needed the affirmation that comes from public acknowledgment. “I never wanted to be a spokesperson, but I also feel it’s important to talk about it,” he wrote in the caption accompanying the video. His story underscores a broader shift in sport, where athletes increasingly leverage personal narratives to foster mental-health awareness and champion diversity. As Ukkelberg continues to compete, his message remains clear: authenticity is not a sacrifice—it is a catalyst for personal growth and a beacon for those still searching for the courage to live openly.
