Swiss beach volleyball star Leo Dillier comes out ahead of LA 2028 goal
August 18, 2026Swiss beach volleyball standout Leo Dillier has publicly come out as gay, presenting himself as a visible role model for young LGBTQ+ people in elite men’s sport while pursuing qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The 25-year-old athlete made his announcement in an Instagram video shortly after competing at the European Beach Volleyball Championships in Poland with partner Luc Flückiger, where they exited just before the round of 16.
In his post, Dillier wrote: “Today, I want to share something personal: I’m gay.” He explained that accepting himself within elite sport took time and that he now feels proud of who he is both on and off the court. He said he wants to become the kind of role model he wished he had as a teenager.
Challenging stereotypes in elite sport
In the video, Dillier speaks about the pressures in men’s elite sport to conform to narrow expectations of masculinity and toughness. He recalls feeling “a bit different” and out of step with those norms, and notes that gay men in sport still encounter assumptions that being gay signals weakness.
He describes his teenage years as especially difficult and says that at 15 he deeply wanted an openly gay elite athlete to look up to. He hopes that being open now will make it easier for others. Coming out, he says, has been a lifelong issue for him in the context of elite sport, and he chose this moment because he feels confident and wants to influence the culture around him.
Support and sporting achievements
Dillier grew up in Möhlin in northern Switzerland and has established himself as one of his country’s leading beach volleyball players. He first made a major impact in 2022 by winning the Swiss national title with Adrian Heidrich.
Internationally, he now competes primarily with Marco Krattiger. The duo are ranked 23rd in the world, with a ninth-place finish at the World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, and a Beach Pro Tour Challenge victory in Poland, alongside several other podium finishes at Challenge and Future events.
Following his announcement, Dillier received visible support from across sport. Krattiger and the Swiss national volleyball federation reacted positively on Instagram. Swiss tennis player Mika Brunold called him a “star,” while Australian basketball player AJ Ogilvy and Danish handball professional Villads Raahauge Jensen also commented in support.
His story adds to a growing list of openly gay male athletes in Swiss sport, including basketball player Marco Lehmann, traditional wrestler Curdin Orlik and volleyball player Dennis Del Valle. In beach volleyball more broadly, prominent LGBTQ+ figures include Brazil’s Olympic champion Ana Patricia Ramos and Australian Sydney 2000 gold medalist Natalie Cook. In the United States, national-team player Charlie Siragusa is openly gay, and former pro Kyle Friend continues to work in the sport as a commentator and podcaster after publicly sharing his relationship with Tim Brewster.
Why this matters for the workplace
Dillier’s decision carries lessons for employers:
- Visible LGBTQ+ role models help employees feel that they can be open about who they are and still succeed at the highest level.
- Psychological safety, which Dillier sought in sport, is equally important in business for performance, retention and leadership development.
- Challenging rigid gender norms benefits organizational culture and widens the pool of people who feel able to lead authentically.
For businesses and professionals that want to connect with inclusive employers and a global LGBTQ+ business community, signing up for myGwork is a practical way to turn these values into everyday workplace reality.
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