A professional volleyball player from Winnipeg who said he was denied an opportunity to play overseas because of his sexuality back in September, has now been signed to a team in Finland.

Chris Voth, a former University of Manitoba Bison, who was playing volleyball in the Netherlands but wanted to try playing in another country, said a team he was about to sign with, pulled his contract because they found out he is gay.

Voth and his agent spent the summer trying to find another offer. Since September, Voth had been training with the national men’s volleyball team’s Full-time Training Centre in Gatineau, Que.

Beginning last week, Voth has been playing for Team Lakkapaa, in Rovaniemi, Finland.

“I'm so honoured and thankful. It's exactly what I was looking for. It's a strong team in a strong league and I'm looking forward to the challenge I think it's really important,” Voth said.

Voth never revealed the name of the team that rejected him. However, he said the decision only triggered his motivation.

“It was tough when I lost the contract for being gay and when teams kept passing. But I knew that my goal wasn't to make it easy for myself. My goal was to try to make a difference and change the sport culture, to set an example. It wasn't ever about making it easier or harder for myself. That it is possible to be out and an athlete and that we can compete as well or better than our counterparts,” Voth said. “That's the type of message I want to send. That it's empowering and makes you stronger, not that it holds you back,” he added.

He wants people to know it's possible to be an openly gay professional athlete.

“There was a time when a lot of athletes were coming out and that has now died down. Which I think is a good sign because it's less of a big deal. But there still a lot of work to be done,” he said.

- With files from CTV Winnipeg's Sarah Plowman