Dan Jervis: 'I want to be that role model for someone'

It took 24 years for me to be who I am today. I see who I am in the mirror.

Dan Jervis smiles as he says those words.

After competing at the World Championships in Hungary, the Welsh distance swimmer is getting ready for the Commonwealth Games. He will look to add a 1500m freestyle gold to the medals he earned in Glasgow and the Gold Coast.

The self-proclaimed 'Valley boy' will go into the Games full of confidence after reaching the 1500m final on his Olympic debut last year.

Changes in his personal life, as well as events in the pool, have driven his positivity as he prepares to discuss his sexuality for the first time.

He shared his story in two exclusive interviews with the BBC.

• The LGBT Sport Podcast: The One with Dan Jervis

'The pools had shut - I was training for the Olympics in a lake'

Rugby is a game played in the small village of Resolven.

Swimming was the sport that his grandparents took him to.

"My claim to fame is that I was able to do 10m without any assistance when I was a child," he says.

I was interested in swimming. When I went to school, there were no other swimmers that I knew of. I loved having something that I was better at than the others and that's what this sounds like.

I always wanted to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal when I was younger.

It wasn't easy to prepare for the first part of the dream, but the Welshman did. The Games were delayed as a result of the Covid outbreak.

It was the most difficult time in my life.

I was using the spin bike in the garage and training in a lake after the pools had shut. If you have a goal, you'll find a way to get to it.

I was ready to walk out of Tokyo when I heard the athletes welcoming them for the Olympics. I remember thinking to just take it in, because my life had been built up to that point.

I remember everything about the Olympics because you never know if it will happen again.

'I couldn't even say 'I'm gay' - I was basically punching the words out'

A proud Welshman, an Olympian, and one of Britain's top swimming stars have been known to the world for a long time.

He is going to talk about his sexuality as well.

"Everyone's journey is different, but I think I've known that for a long time," he says.

Something in the back of my mind was bothering me. Three years ago, I realized I had to deal with this because I thought I was bisexual.

It wasn't affecting my swimming but me. I wasn't having a good time in my life. There was something missing that made me happy.

Over the course of a long period of time, Jervis told those closest to him about his sexuality. He says he became who he was at the age of 24. He talked to a counsellor, who was his best friend, as they watched tv.

"I didn't say the words out loud to myself at that point."

I said I thought I was gay. I can't say I'm gay. I wasn't able to say it was still. The words were being punched out by me.

She was surprised but happy, and it was what I wanted. I've had a lot of good reactions and I'm not going to change.

You've known me as the Dan. You know more about me now.

'I want to be that person for someone'

The stories of previous guests on the radio show inspired Jervis to talk about his sexuality.

I was told by Michael that I should come on the show. I messaged Osian Jones about it.

Mark Foster said on your show that he wanted to add his weight to make people's lives better. I didn't have anyone to look to when I was younger in swimming because I didn't know any out swimmers. I would like to be that person for someone.

Jervis is hoping that he can be a role model in other areas.

The Welsh man says he's a Christian.

My faith is what I'm proudest of in my life. There is a situation where people say you can't be gay and Christian at the same time, and I knew you could because I am.

In many ways, the story of Jervis is about owning the different parts of who he is, his Welshness, his faith, his sexuality, and his sporting success.

He said it took him 24 years to be who he is.

I was just trying to fit in until I decided to just be you.

We're just before the Commonwealth Games and there will be kids and adults watching who will know that I'm proud of who I am.

People who are dying over this, I hated who I was for so long. They end their lives because they hate themselves so much.

"If I can just be like them, then that's great."

Dan was speaking to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transexual community on the radio. The full conversation can be heard on the radio and on the television.