American middle distance runner Nick Symmonds made headlines after competing in the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow, when he dedicated his silver medal to the LGBT community in the fight for equality ahead of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Symmonds expressed his support for gays and lesbians in an interview with Russian publication R-Sport. Symmonds reportedly became the first athlete to challenge Russia's homophobic laws while in Russia.

"As much as I can speak out about it, I believe that all humans deserve equality as however God made them," he said. "Whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there's anything I can do to champion the cause and further it, I will, shy of getting arrested. I respect Russians' ability to govern their people. I disagree with their laws. I do have respect for this nation. I disagree with their rules."

Symmonds' stance was brave considering that it is illegal to promote "gay propaganda" in the staunchly conservative nation. The topic of how LGBT people will be treated in Sochi during next year's Winter Olympics has been one of intense debate. While most disagree with the law, there is no consensus on whether people should boycott the games. President Barack Obama expressed his displeasure with the law but disagreed with the idea of a boycott.

"Nobody is more offended than me by some of the anti-gay and lesbian legislature that you've been seeing in Russia," Obama said during a White House news conference last week. "I do not think it's appropriate to boycott the Olympics. We've got a bunch of Americans who are training hard, who are doing everything they can to succeed," he said.

"One of the things I'm really looking forward to is maybe some gay and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or silver or bronze, which I think would go a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes that we're seeing there," he said.

The Associated Press also reported that International Olympic Committee President Jacques Roggue is still waiting for more reassurance from the Russian government regarding the safety of LGBT individuals during the Olympics.

Last week, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that Olympic athletes would have to "respect the laws of the country."