200-metre butterfly record holder

Competed for both Team GB and Team Jamaica

TV personality, presenter, LGBT advocate

Michael Gunning is an international swimmer best known for the 200-metre butterfly event. He has dual nationality, and still holds national records for both Team GB and Team Jamaica from his competitive swimming career. In 2018, Michael was awarded Sportsman of the Year in Jamaica for his contribution to sport. 

He has been a recognised public figure in the media and entertainment world since he came out as gay on NBC Universal’s E! Entertainment and was part of the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. One of the few mixed-race swimmers in a traditionally white sport, Michael is an inclusivity champion who campaigns for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community around the world. As such, he recently appeared in BBC One’s ‘Tom Daley : Illegal to be Me’ documentary.

As the face of Speedo’s Swim United campaign since 2022, Michael has both spoken in Parliament about the need for all young people to have access to swimming lessons and has travelled across the UK to raise awareness and support children who haven’t yet learnt to swim. He also took to our screens alongside Dr Ranj for Children In Need to encourage everyone to get in the water and learn to swim, no matter their background or age. 

Michael has a first-class honours degree in Early Childhood Studies, and is a regular pundit and speaker including hosting the live swimming events at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. He was also one of ten creators selected for Sky Sports 2023/24 production fund and is currently working on his first documentary project.