David Schumacher celebrates his father's unveiling
Completely surprising, Ralf Schumacher made his relationship with a man public during the EM-Finals. His son David provided him with particular support in this. "I stand 100% behind you, whether man or woman", writes the young racing driver.
Ralf Schumacher made his love for a man public through an Instagram post and became one of the few former or current stars in the sports world to come out as not-heterosexual. The former Formula 1 pilot's step caused a great deal of attention during the UEFA European Championship final on Sunday evening, gathering tens of thousands of comments under his Instagram photo, in which he is seen with his partner.
David Schumacher, the only child born from Ralf Schumacher's marriage to ex-model Cora Schumacher in 2001, also expressed himself regarding his father's coming-out: "I'm very happy that you've finally found someone where you really feel safe and secure", writes David Schumacher under his father's post. "I stand 100% behind you, Papa, and wish you all the best and a happy and loving congratulations".
Rare among top athletes to come out
David Schumacher is the only child from Ralf Schumacher's marriage to Cora Schumacher. They married in 2001, the same year their son was born. Cora and Ralf Schumacher have been living separately since 2009, but their divorce was not finalized until 2015.
Ralf Schumacher, who competed in 180 races in Formula 1 and won six of them, is one of the few former or current German top athletes to come out publicly. The most prominent among them is the former German football national team player Thomas Hitzlsperger. The third-place finisher at the 2006 World Cup came out in 2014, a year after his retirement.
David Schumacher could not follow exactly in his father's footsteps. The 23-year-old was unable to make it into the top class, like his father Ralf and uncle and record world champion Michael, but he currently competes in the ADAC GT Masters. And with growing success: With his partner Salman Owega, Schumacher secured his first win in the series at the Nürburgring on the previous Saturday. A few hours before his father's coming-out, he added another victory to the weekend.
Ralf Schumacher's announcement of his love life sparked interest in the world of Formula 1, making headlines as one of the few openly homosexual athletes in high-level sports. His son David, also a racer, showed his support by commenting on his father's Instagram post, expressing happiness for his father's newfound happiness and love.
Though Formula 1 is often associated with traditional masculinity, Ralf Schumacher's revelation can add a new dimension to the sport, potentially encouraging more representation and acceptance of homosexuality in the world of entertainment and sports.
