Two days after proposing to his boyfriend, British Olympic race-walker Tom Bosworth has spoken out about the stark contrast between his own experiences as an out gay athlete from a liberal nation and the plight of LGBT competitors from countries with repressive laws, who face criminal penalties and societal persecution – rendering them unable to come out, far less propose to their partners.

Bosworth, 26, who came sixth in the men’s 20km walk, asked his boyfriend of five years, Harry Dineley, to marry him on Copacabana beach on Monday, sparking international press coverage and streams of congratulatory messages from fellow Olympians and members of the public.

But despite his personal and professional happiness, Bosworth told BuzzFeed News there are countless other LGBT athletes suffering in the closet, with relationships forced into secrecy, who must be remembered and helped.

“We have 44 out athletes at the Olympic Games, which out of 11,00 athletes is nothing,” he said. “There are lots of countries still where you can’t be out, let alone be a sportsperson at the Olympic Games and be out. I can’t imagine being in that situation where back home it is still illegal.”

Bosworth, who is from Leeds and who last year revealed publicly that he is gay, added: “Can sporting governing bodies do more to combat homophobia? Absolutely. But I think for athletes from countries where it’s not accepted, things have to change at home first – for their own safety, and for them to be able to come out and be those role models. The world needs to change.”

If the 75 countries that criminalise homosexuality were to change the law, their sportspeople might “then be brave enough to come out”, said Bosworth, who stressed that such a decision is “about the individual”, who “has to do what’s right for them”.