Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : RTL)
Milan Violon is a 17-year-old young man who is shattering long-held stereotypes surrounding artistic swimming. Since the rules of the sport were changed to allow the inclusion of men on mixed teams, he has been steadily rising to the highest levels of competition. Yet, despite delivering exceptional performances and setting new standards of excellence in artistic swimming, he has become the target of a wave of hateful comments.
Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Milan Violon was crowned a double French Junior Champion in 2025, at just 16 years of age, in both the technical solo and mixed technical duet categories. It is a remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about his talent, determination, and commitment to the sport.
The hateful comments directed at Milan Violon are primarily linked to the fact that he is a boy competing in a sport that has long been perceived as being “for women only.” Most of these attacks come from social media, where some users react negatively to his visibility and success.
Among the types of comments reported on posts about him or about men in artistic swimming are statements such as:
“This is not a sport for men.”
“Men have no place in artistic swimming.”
“He should do swimming or water polo instead.”
“You are destroying women’s sports.”
There are also homophobic insults, despite the fact that Milan has never publicly discussed his private life. Other comments mock his masculinity, his appearance, or his competition costumes. Some even claim that he enjoys an “unfair advantage” over women, despite the fact that competitions are governed by strict regulations.
This hostility can be explained by several factors. First, artistic swimming was an exclusively female discipline for decades. The official inclusion of men is relatively recent and continues to generate resistance among some individuals who still view the sport as a symbol of femininity.
Gender stereotypes also remain deeply rooted in society. Some people continue to associate dance, grace, and artistic expression exclusively with women and believe that men should not participate in such disciplines. These prejudices often lead to sexist and homophobic attacks.
Milan Violon’s growing media visibility further amplifies these reactions. The more successful and recognizable an athlete becomes, the more attention they attract—including from individuals who use social media as a platform to spread hatred and intolerance.
What surprises me most about the many hateful and homophobic messages he receives, despite never having spoken publicly about his private life, is seeing people claim that artistic swimming is not a sport that men should practice simply because it is an artistic discipline.
Allow me to respond to these internet critics who seem to have nothing better to do than spread hatred: art and artistic disciplines belong just as much to men as they do to women. Consider ballet, where great male dancers have left an indelible mark on the history of the art through their extraordinary talent. Consider artistic gymnastics, which, during World Championships and Olympic Games, introduces us to young men competing in disciplines that are as fascinating as they are demanding. Their strength, precision, grace, and mastery are admired around the world without anyone questioning their masculinity.
Reducing artistic swimming to a discipline “reserved for women” simply because it contains an artistic component is an argument that neither history nor reality supports. Throughout history, men have occupied prominent places in the arts, whether in theatre, opera, music, photography, painting, sculpture, or cinema. Their contribution to the world’s cultural heritage is immense, and no serious observer would question their legitimacy based on their gender.
The same is true of disciplines where artistic expression is combined with elite athletic performance. Circus arts, figure skating, choreographed martial arts, and many forms of dance all demonstrate that it is perfectly natural for men to combine power, precision, elegance, and artistic interpretation. These qualities are neither masculine nor feminine; they are the qualities of an artist and an athlete.
The real question, therefore, is not whether a man can participate in an artistic discipline, but why, in 2026, some people still believe that sensitivity, grace, and physical expression should belong exclusively to one gender. It is precisely these outdated prejudices that fuel the hateful comments directed at young athletes like Milan Violon, whose only “fault” is excelling in a demanding sport that is evolving with the times.
Milan is currently living one of the most exciting and rewarding periods of his life, pursuing with passion a discipline that has made him a champion. Rather than criticizing him, we should encourage him to continue his journey and keep pushing his limits ever higher.
I am extremely proud of what he has accomplished, and I am pleased to offer him my full support in this battle against hatred, prejudice, and ignorance. His talent, determination, and courage deserve to be celebrated.
Congratulations, Milan!
ADVERTISING
READ ALSO
Why Aren’t There Any Gay Football Players?
https://gayglobe.net/en/why-arent-there-any-gay-football-players/
Trans Identity and Fairness in Sports: The Debate Intensifies
https://gayglobe.net/en/trans-identity-and-fairness-in-sports-the-debate-intensifies/
Gay Globe Magazine #143 – Homos or Heteros, We All Wear the Same Jersey
https://gayglobe.net/en/ggmag143/
Gay Globe Magazine #168 – FIFA 2026: A Disaster in the Making? State-Sponsored Homophobia
https://gayglobe.net/en/ggmag168/
Gay Globe Magazine #94 – Gay Games in Russia: Fighting Homophobia Through Sport
https://gayglobe.net/en/ggmag94/
Roger-Luc Chayer on TVA: Homophobic Remarks by Sports Commentators
https://gayglobe.net/en/roger-luc-chayer-on-tva-homophobic-remarks-by-sports-commentators/