England women’s football captain Casey Stoney has announced that she has decided to speak publicly about being gay for the first time.

Arsenal Ladies defender Stoney told BBC Sport she decided to come out after the positive reaction to diver Tom Daley saying he was in a relationship with a man and because of the “loving relationship” she is in.

Stoney, who captained Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics, said that she was “living a lie.”

“I’ve never hidden it within football circles because it is accepted, “ she told BBC Sport. “But to the outside world, I’ve never spoken about my sexuality.”

“For the last 10 years I’ve always cared too much what other people think. I was frightened of the stereotypes, frightened of being judged, frightened of what other people might say, especially the abuse you can get through social media,” she continued.

“I looked at the response that Tom Daley got. It was incredibly positive, and I thought ‘wow the world is changing and it’s time for me to stand up and tell my side of the story’.

“Those three or four people have given me the courage to say I’m gay.”