British race walker Tom Bosworth has opened up for the first time about the struggles that he faced growing up as a gay athlete.

The 25-year-old, who made his debut at the World Athletics Championships in August, has revealed that he has been in a relationship with a man for the last four-and-a-half years.

Bosworth has claimed that he was called a "fag" and "queer" by people in the past and even had his head smashed through a window at school.

"To my family and friends this is no surprise, but I felt now was the right time to speak publicly about this," Bosworth told BBC News.

"About four or five years ago, some former athletes in local athletics would verbally abuse me. It was pretty nasty, and made worse by the fact they found it funny."

Bosworth is the first British athlete in the current team to come out as gay.