With Tom Daley grabbing gold, Tokyo Olympics 2021 have marked a historic rise in the participation of LGBTQ athletes with more than 160 of them competing in various games.
The number of queer athletes has escalated from 23 in the 2012 London Games and 56 in the 2016 Rio Games to 160 in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Moreover, for the first time in Olympics history, the opening ceremony saw two flag-bearers – one male and female, marching ahead of the team. While the two highlighted gender equality, the Olympics have also welcomed huge participation of the third gender.
Meet 5 Tokyo Olympics 2021 LGBTQ Athletes Including Diving Champ Tom Daley
Tom Daley (Diver – UK)
“I feel incredibly proud to say I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion,” said the teary-eyed British Diver Tom Daley after winning gold in the synchronized 10m platform diving at the 2021 Olympics on Monday with partner Matty Lee. He had come out in a 2013 YouTube video. This had happened shortly after he began dating his now-husband, Dustin Lance Black who is an Oscar-winning screenwriter.
Dutee Chand (Sprinter – India)
The Indian sprinter came out as a lesbian after revealing her same-sex relationship in May, 2019. Hailed as the fastest woman in India, she will be seen participating in 100m and 200m track and field events, in Tokyo. Dutee is a national record holder in women’s 100m at 11.26 seconds.
Quinn (Footballer – Canada)
Toronto-born Quinn prefers the pronouns they/them and came out as nonbinary and transgender via Instagram last year. Ever since then, they have been proud of becoming the first openly transgender athlete to participate in the Olympics. “Trans women facing discrimination and bias while trying to pursue their Olympic dreams,” they said, remarking how trans women still have a long way to go.
Laurel Hubbard (Weightlifter – New Zealand)
The first trans athlete to compete in modern Olympics, the New Zealander is set to compete in the women’s 87-kg weightlifting category. The 43-year-old used to participate in men’s events before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed transgender athletes to compete as a woman in 2015.
Megan Rapinoe (Footballer – USA)
“I think that any time you hide even the smallest part of yourself, you’re not able to fully capture your potential just in life in general,” said American footballer Megan Rapinoe about how coming out made her a better and fuller person. The 35-year-old has been an outspoken advocate for queer rights, equal pay and racial justice, ever since. This year in March she announced her engagement with professional basketballer Sue Bird who also then came out publicly.
United States has over 47 openly queer athletes. It’s followed by Canada, Netherlands and Great Britain which have 33, 20 and 14 respectively. Till this date, LGBTQ+ athletes have won 93 gold, 75 silver and 61 bronze medals and the count is expected to grow this season in Tokyo Olympics.
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