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COSMO PREMIERES LGBTI ATHLETES: THE COURAGE TO BE VISIBLE

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COSMO PREMIERES LGBTI ATHLETES: THE COURAGE TO BE VISIBLE

LGBTI Athletes: The Courage to Be Visible

In the world of sports, where discipline and performance are everything, visibility remains an ongoing challenge. Breaking the silence is also a way of competing. As part of its social commitment, COSMO will premiere LGBTI Athletes: The Courage to Be Visible on Saturday, June 28 at 10:00 p.m. This special program features eight elite athletes and one journalist, all members of the LGBTI community, who share their personal and professional experiences and explain how we can all build a more inclusive sporting world.

In a direct and personal portrait, Víctor Gutiérrez (water polo player for the national team and Madrid MP), María Pérez (Olympic race walker and world and European champion), Javier Raya (Olympic figure skater), Patricia González “Peque” (women’s futsal Ballon d’Or winner), Alberto Lejárraga (first openly LGBTI  Spanish footballer), Xantal Giné (field hockey player), Daniel Naranjo (president and player of inclusive rugby team Madrid Titanes), Sara Peláez (basketball referee), and Raúl Granado (sports journalist) reflect on the importance of visibility and share what it means to be LGBTI  in environments that have often turned their backs on diversity.

I came out, I chose to be myself, because I wanted my relationship with my partner to feel as normal as possible. I didn’t want to hide”, says Alberto Lejárraga, the first active professional footballer in Spain to come out as LGBTI. “I’ve been fortunate to live my life the way I want to, and that comes with responsibility”, he explains, speaking of his role as a public figure both in and out of sport.

In this original COSMO production, the athletes reveal why they chose to come out and what the process was like, from their immediate circles to the often unexpected media attention that tends to follow. They also discuss the reactions from fans, teammates, clubs, and federations; the fears and uncertainties they faced; and the support they received despite their doubts. They shed light on the barriers that still prevent many professionals from speaking openly about their identity or orientation, including online threats and the potential loss of sponsorships, particularly in high-profile sports like football.

The numbers show that there is still a long way to go before sport becomes a safe space for LGBTI individuals. Out of the 10,500 athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, only 193 publicly identified as LGBTI, a historic record but still a tiny fraction. In Spain, 64.5% of secondary school students have witnessed homophobic behaviour during Physical Education classes, and 33% have experienced it firsthand, even those who are not LGBTI. In fact, anti-LGBTI hate crimes are the most frequent hate crimes in the country. Between 2002 and 2021, 22.7% of such crimes, nearly one in five, were committed because of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Many of these assaults occurred at sporting events.

The first time I was called a fag I was eight years old. The last time? Today, on Twitter”, says water polo player Víctor Gutiérrez. “The violence that we LGBTI people experience is something we’ve unfortunately come to normalize, because we’ve lived with it our whole lives. But that doesn’t make it right and we shouldn’t tolerate it”, he adds.

For all these reasons, the protagonists of LGBTI Athletes: The Courage to Be Visible highlight the importance of visibility and representation, particularly for younger generations. They also advocate for sanctions against all forms of LGBTI hate, whether in professional or amateur sports, and across all levels. Finally, they call on society as a whole to be part of the change by speaking out against all forms of discrimination.

COSMO premieres LGBTI Athletes: The Courage to Be Visible on Saturday, June 28 at 10:00 p.m. The show will be available on COSMO ON, COSMO’s video-on-demand service. 

COSMO ON offers subscribers, at no additional cost, the best international series, entertainment shows and movies, as well as exclusive premieres, previews and special events. Available on all of Spain’s main paid TV operators, COSMO ON’s catalog includes an average of more than 500 on-demand titles per year. In addition, the service also offers a section dedicated to COSMO’s original productions where our award-winning original short films stand out along with the original COSMO shows It Moms and We love Tamara.

COSMO is a leading pay TV channel available on all major Spanish platforms. The channel is part of the Hearst Networks EMEA portfolio, a leading media group that delivers programming to more than 76 million households in 100 countries.
 



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Chanticleers Continue Academic Excellence in Fall 2025

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CONWAY — Coastal Carolina Athletics continued its strong academic performance during the Fall 2025 semester, the department announced.

The Chanticleers posted a 3.37 departmental GPA for the fall semester, marking the department’s 23rd consecutive semester with a GPA above 3.0. Overall, 18 of 19 teams earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

“The academic success of our student-athletes during the Fall 2025 semester reflects their commitment to excellence in the classroom and the strong support structure we have in place at Coastal Carolina,” said Chance Miller, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation. “With 23 consecutive semesters above a 3.0 departmental GPA and multiple programs achieving record-setting results, this performance is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, and academic support staff in developing well-rounded individuals prepared for success beyond athletics.”

A total of 360 student-athletes earned Chauncey’s Honor Roll recognition by posting a semester GPA of 3.0 or better, while 90 student-athletes were named Elite Chants with perfect 4.0 GPAs. Additionally, 146 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors, an increase of 10 from Spring 2025, and 78 student-athletes were named to the President’s List, three more than the previous semester.

Several programs achieved historic academic milestones during the fall semester. Men’s basketball recorded its highest GPA on record with a 3.51, while men’s cross country posted a program-best 3.59, the highest GPA among all men’s teams. Men’s golf earned its highest GPA outside of the Spring 2020 COVID semester with a 3.55.

On the women’s side, women’s basketball earned its highest GPA on record with a 3.40. Indoor track and field (3.66), women’s track and field (3.67), and softball (3.85) each posted program-best GPAs, while lacrosse recorded its second-highest GPA on record at 3.65. Women’s tennis led all women’s teams with a 3.89 GPA, the highest women’s team GPA this semester.


A DEEPER DIVE

  • 146 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors.
  • 78 student-athletes earned President’s List recognition.
  • 360 student-athletes earned Chauncey’s Honor Roll recognition (3.0+ semester GPA).
  • 90 student-athletes were named Elite Chants (4.0 semester GPA).
  • 23 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA above 3.0.
  • 18 of 19 teams earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Men’s cross country posted the highest men’s team GPA (3.59).
  • Women’s tennis earned the highest women’s team GPA (3.89).



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Four From Women’s Volleyball Named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team

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Springfield, Mass. – December 18, 2025 – Four student-athletes from the Springfield College women’s volleyball program were recently named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for their efforts on the field and in the classroom.

This year’s Springfield College women’s volleyball recipients included Ahunna James (Plainville, Mass.)Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.)Alexa Bonato (Orange, Conn.) and Olivia Nealy (Athens, Ga.). This marks the second straight year that James has earned the award, while Colosimo, Bonato and Nealy are all first-time recipients.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher, compete in 90-percent of the team’s games played OR start in at least 66-percent of the team’s games over the course of the season.

Colosimo, an occupational therapy major with a 3.57 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as a junior and recorded 927 total assists (8.83 per set) to go along with 81 kills, 57 aces, 41 blocks and 249 digs. She was named the Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament Team at the season opening Joel B. Dearing ’79 Volleyball Classic after recording over 100 assists, 13 kills, nine digs, and six blocks over three matches and became the ninth student-athlete in Springfield women’s volleyball history to eclipse 2,000 career assists. Colosimo was also recognized with New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-League Second Team honors, a spot on the AVCA All-Region I Team and was named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.

James, a public health major with a 3.72 grade point average, started in 30 matches as a junior, recorded 217 kills (2.13 per set) and hit .206 on the season. James also tallied 31 aces, 72 blocks and 235 digs (2.30 per set). Bonato, a public health major with a 3.89 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as a sophomore and registered 150 kills on the year. Bonato also notched 17 aces, 94 digs and 29 blocks to wrap up her second season on the court with the Pride.

Nealy, a physical therapy major with a 3.70 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as Springfield’s libero during her junior season. Nealy registered 377 digs (3.59 per set) and 66 assists as well as four aces on the year to guide the Pride defensively.

Under the direction of head coach Moira Long Springfield went 23-8 this season and once again earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. This marked the third straight season, Springfield was represented in the national tournament among the 64 best teams in the country.

Sign up for free today to receive the latest news about your favorite Springfield College Athletics program directly to your email here. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events





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Watch Wisconsin volleyball vs Kentucky in Final Four tonight; time, TV

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Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 2:03 p.m. CT



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Aggie Volleyball Signs Gianna Bogan Ahead of 2026 Season

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DAVIS, Calif. — As UC Davis volleyball prepares for their first season in the Mountain West Conference, head coach Dan Conners has signed his first recruit for the new season, with Gianna Bogan joining the Aggies in the 2026 winter quarter.

“We are very excited about Gianna joining the program. She has excellent ball control skills and a fast arm.” Said Coach Conners.  

“Most importantly, she embodies the cultural characteristics that fit Aggie Volleyball with a hardworking, resilient, and team-first attitude.  We anticipate that Gianna will take advantage of the opportunity to have an immediate impact.”

A 6’0 outside hitter for Rocklin High School, Bogan had a decorated career for the Thunder, collecting over 1,000 career kills during her junior season while being named a First-Team All-Sierra Foothill League player as a sophomore, junior, and senior.

As a senior, Bogan also served as the on-court leader for a team that became the first public school in the California San Joaquin Section to make a run at the CIF volleyball open state final, the high school state championship of volleyball. She was also given the “Pursuing Victory With Honor” award at the competition, which recognizes student-athletes for exceptional sportsmanship, ethics, and character. 

Her 326 kills also led Bogan to be named to the Optimist All-Star Game, an annual Sacramento area charity event, where she was named MVP of the volleyball competition. 

By joining the team in January, Bogan will have the opportunity to practice with the Aggies ahead of the rest of the 2026 signing class, which will be announced in the spring.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/. 

 



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Kentucky volleyball game time today, Wisconsin vs UK Final 4 channel

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Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 1:07 p.m. ET



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Johansson Earns Big Ten Weekly Honors – University of Nebraska

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Nebraska’s track and field’s Axelina Johansson earned Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, announced by the conference office on Wednesday. After her record setting performance, Johansson also earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week. 

With a mark of 19.72m (64-8 ½), the senior from Hok, Sweden set a Husker school record, Swedish record and NCAA indoor record in the shot put en route to winning the event title at the Husker Holiday Open. Johansson is the first Husker to win Big Ten weekly honors since Henry Zimmerman won Field Athlete of the Week on Feb. 26, 2025. 

Nebraska is back in action on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Graduate Classic at the Devaney Center Indoor Track.

 



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