Nicholas Keenan, argentina hockey Stars and partners of Dutch prime minister-elect, Rob Jettonreflecting on the positioning of LGBTQ+ identities in international sportsRourkela: In the high-profile, often intimidating, rough and chaotic world of international sport, it takes courage to stand up. Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Keenan is one of the few openly gay players in men’s hockey. The two-time Olympian opened up about his sexuality around 2023, when his relationship with Dutch politician Rob Jetten became public.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Jetton, leader of the centrist liberal Democratic Party 66, will become the Netherlands’ youngest prime minister when his government is sworn in later this month.Keenan is a regular at international hockey in India, having played here for the first time at the 2016 Junior World Cup and is currently participating in the ongoing International Hockey Federation Pro League. Keenan spoke to TOI about what it means to be a professional player from the LGBTQ+ community, the lack of recognition from the International Hockey Federation and how he sees himself being able to bring about change in society. Excerpts from the exclusive interview:As a hockey player, what is it like to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community, especially when not many players are open about it?Before I say it, it feels a little lonely because, like you said, there aren’t a lot of players that I can look up to. But as I started explaining my story, I started getting tons of messages from people in similar situations in hockey, other sports, and different industries. So, I feel like the community is really supportive and I’m not alone in my journey.Several players, including Nike Lorenz, Mats Grambusch and Kaitlin Nobbs, have worn the rainbow strips during games. How important are these symbols?I think symbols are important. I wish there were more of this around me when I was growing up as a young hockey player. But even now, as an experienced player, I feel there is still a lot of work to be done. It’s nice to see and imagine the symbols, but at the same time, they can feel superficial in some ways.How can international sports federations, particularly the International Hockey Federation, provide more support to the community?If we talk about FIH (International Hockey Federation), I really don’t know who FIH is. I hoped to hear from them as soon as my story came out, but I never did. But I’ve been contacted by other federations and I think it’s really important that federations in general try to create safe environments where people feel safe enough to be who they are.What kind of response did you get from the Argentinian and Dutch ice hockey federations where you played for HC Klein Zwitserland?The President of the Argentine Federation is the minister who passed Argentina’s equal marriage law. So, he was one of the first people to text me. The Dutch federation has a dedicated group to deal with such issues. They always ask me how I can do better. But I tell them not to put all the weight on their shoulders because it’s not just about the federation or the sport. Society needs to change. This is something deeper.How does it feel to be able to inspire others?At first, I was very shy. But when I started getting messages from people saying, “You make me so happy” or “I finally have someone to look up to,” I talked to my partner. This was tricky at first because it made me sad to see so many people going through difficult situations. But after that conversation, I realized that if I could change someone’s day, it would change mine. It’s not about becoming someone or trying to achieve a certain status. It’s about that little kid who might not notice it now, but in 10 or 15 years might think, “Oh, Nico was there.”Can you introduce us to your partner Rob Jetten, who will become the youngest Prime Minister of the Netherlands?When he was a child, his passions were politics and helping others. So it’s inspiring to see how he conducted himself until he reached the top. Even though we come from two completely different worlds – sports and politics, we have some similarities. Being with him inspires me to be myself and know that no matter who I am and who I love, I can still reach the top and be the best version of myself.What was it like when you were young in Buenos Aires? What role did sports play in your growing up?We have a strong club culture in Argentina. So, I played for Buenos Aires City, the club my parents and grandparents played for. It was a safe environment, my parents would drop me off and I would play different sports there all weekend long, mainly hockey. This is where I make friends. So, sports feels like home to me. It felt like a safe space that I could be in.
