Irma Testa comes out: "Homosexuality is not an imperfection"

"The people around me have known this for years, but I think it is right now to tell everyone. Talking about sexual orientation in the world of sport has a special value, because

. Even for me it was like this until a few months ago. But that Tokyo medal has become my shield: now that the athlete Irma is safe, the woman Irma can be sincere ". Thus Testa, bronze medalist in boxing at the recent Olympics, comes out in an interview published in the latest issue of Vanity Fair.

"

- says the blue again -. When I told my mother I was not even 16 years old. She took it naturally. I thought she could not understand, but instead she understood. He told me: if you're happy, that's okay with me. " Boxing helped her in her awareness, "because - she explains - I got to know the world.

".

Irma, the butterfly from Torre Annunziata, entered the ring still a child, at only 11 years old, following her sister Lucia.

In a difficult land she took the path of daily commitment, sacrifices and hard work, rather than 'taking shortcuts that would have taken her who knows' where.

Instead, Luciano Zurlo, a true master of the noble art, took her under his wing and made her a very strong champion, also to revive her own diversity.