Beach volleyball player Alex Ukkelberg has shared his coming-out story in a public Instagram video, describing years of struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his identity as an athlete. The Los Angeles-based professional says he’s grateful to be gay, and that speaking openly now feels right. His message adds a personal voice to growing LGBTQ+ visibility in volleyball.

Alex Ukkelberg says he’s thankful to be gay

Ukkelberg’s video is both a coming-out announcement and a look back at how difficult self-acceptance was. He describes once believing that being an athlete and being gay couldn’t fit together, then recalls the challenge of saying “I’m gay” aloud for the first time. (Outsports)

He says several years of poor mental health led him to accept that neither part of his identity could be set aside. Looking back, Ukkelberg says being gay has made him a more empathetic person, a striking note of gratitude after a painful stretch. (Outsports)

Why he chose to share his story now

Ukkelberg says he’d been out to family and friends, as well as people in his volleyball circle, for more than a decade. But he’d kept his sexuality off social media, even as he shared more of his life online. (The PinkNews; Outsports)

He told Outsports that visibility mattered, and that speaking publicly began to feel like the right thing to do. He also admitted some of him still wanted to delete the video after posting it. That hesitation feels familiar: sharing something personal can be a relief and a leap of faith at once. (Outsports)

A career built on the sand

Ukkelberg is a Los Angeles-based professional beach volleyball player, and his career includes a standout win at the 2025 AVP Laguna Beach Open with partner Logan Webber. The event also marked 70 years of volleyball in the sand at Laguna Beach, a reminder of the sport’s deep local roots. (The Los Angeles Times)

His story highlights how athletes’ public identities can extend beyond match results. Social media has become part of how many players connect with fans, which can make visibility meaningful, but also make personal decisions feel unusually exposed. (Outsports; The Los Angeles Times)

More LGBTQ+ visibility in volleyball

Ukkelberg’s friend and fellow out beach volleyball pro Charlie Siragusa welcomed his decision to share his story, describing him as someone who honours different parts of his identity. Siragusa is also listed by USA Volleyball as an athlete, reflecting the presence of openly LGBTQ+ players within the sport. (Outsports; USA Volleyball)

The moment follows other recent examples of queer visibility in volleyball. In June 2025, US men’s team captain Erik Shoji came out as queer in a video that drew wide attention. Each story is its own, but together they make it easier to see LGBTQ+ athletes as part of the sport, not an exception to it. (Outsports)

What Ukkelberg’s announcement means

Coming out is a personal choice, not an obligation, and Ukkelberg’s account makes clear that timing can matter. He’d been out privately for years before deciding to speak publicly; the change was not in who he was, but in what he felt ready to share. (Outsports)

For fans, his message offers a glimpse of the person behind the athlete. For other players, visibility can help make room for more honest conversations about identity and mental health in sport. It’s a reminder that belonging shouldn’t require choosing just one part of yourself. (Outsports; USA Volleyball)

Ukkelberg’s story is a personal milestone, and another welcome sign of greater visibility in volleyball.

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