Marnie McBean, one of Canada's most decorated Olympians and an athletic mentor, has some pointed advice for young athletes, especially sexual minorities: Have the courage to be authentic to unlock your potential and maximize your performance.
McBean took part in a seminar focused on LGBTI —lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex — and sports as a panelist at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo in November. Intersex people are those born with sexual characteristics that do not fit the typical binary notions of male or female bodies.
"My message to young athletes is, take the time you need and when you're ready, be strong. There is a team around you who will love you and embrace you, and your authentic self is the strongest that you have," the retired competitive rower told the audience.