Difference between revisions of "World Sports Champions Who Identify as LGBTQ"
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* [[Jennifer Azzi]], United States | * [[Jennifer Azzi]], United States | ||
* [[Sue Bird]], United States | * [[Sue Bird]], United States | ||
+ | * [[Carol Blazejowski]], United States | ||
+ | * [[Candice Dupree]], United States | ||
* [[Desiree Miller]], United States | * [[Desiree Miller]], United States | ||
* [[Cindy Ouellet]], United States | * [[Cindy Ouellet]], United States | ||
Line 43: | Line 45: | ||
* [[Michele Aboro]], Great Britain | * [[Michele Aboro]], Great Britain | ||
* [[Nicola Adams]], Great Britain | * [[Nicola Adams]], Great Britain | ||
+ | * [[Beatriz Ferreira]], Brazil | ||
* [[Emile Griffith]], United States | * [[Emile Griffith]], United States | ||
* [[Kellie Harrington]], Ireland | * [[Kellie Harrington]], Ireland | ||
Line 52: | Line 55: | ||
* [[Sandra Forgues]], France | * [[Sandra Forgues]], France | ||
+ | * [[Emma Wiggs]], Great Britain | ||
'''Cricket''' | '''Cricket''' | ||
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* [[Judith Arndt]], Germany | * [[Judith Arndt]], Germany | ||
* [[Camille Balanche]], Switzerland | * [[Camille Balanche]], Switzerland | ||
+ | * [[Perris Benegas]], United States | ||
* [[Katie-George Dunlevy]], Ireland | * [[Katie-George Dunlevy]], Ireland | ||
* [[Missy Giove]], United States | * [[Missy Giove]], United States | ||
Line 72: | Line 77: | ||
* [[Rachel McKinnon]], Canada | * [[Rachel McKinnon]], Canada | ||
* [[Graeme Obree]], Scotland | * [[Graeme Obree]], Scotland | ||
+ | * [[Marie Patouillet]], France | ||
* [[Hannah Roberts]], United States | * [[Hannah Roberts]], United States | ||
* [[Petra Rossner]], Germany | * [[Petra Rossner]], Germany | ||
* [[Linda Villumsen]], New Zealand | * [[Linda Villumsen]], New Zealand | ||
+ | * [[Marianne Vos]], The Netherlands | ||
'''Diving''' | '''Diving''' | ||
Line 84: | Line 91: | ||
'''Equestrian''' | '''Equestrian''' | ||
+ | * [[Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour]], Denmark | ||
* [[Lee Pearson]], Great Britain | * [[Lee Pearson]], Great Britain | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Fencing''' | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Tommaso Marini]], Italy | ||
'''Field Hockey''' | '''Field Hockey''' | ||
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* [[Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel]], The Netherlands | * [[Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel]], The Netherlands | ||
* [[Kim Lammers]], The Netherlands | * [[Kim Lammers]], The Netherlands | ||
+ | * [[Anne Veenendaal]], The Netherlands | ||
'''Football/Soccer''' | '''Football/Soccer''' | ||
Line 101: | Line 114: | ||
* [[Sami Grisafe]], United States | * [[Sami Grisafe]], United States | ||
* [[Ashlyn Harris]], United States | * [[Ashlyn Harris]], United States | ||
+ | * [[Lauren Hemp]], Great Britain | ||
+ | * [[Jenni Hermoso]], Spain | ||
* [[Ursula Holl]], Germany | * [[Ursula Holl]], Germany | ||
* [[Sarah Huffman]], United States | * [[Sarah Huffman]], United States | ||
Line 108: | Line 123: | ||
* [[Kelley O'Hara]], United States | * [[Kelley O'Hara]], United States | ||
* [[Megan Rapinoe]], United States | * [[Megan Rapinoe]], United States | ||
+ | * [[Briana Scurry]], United States | ||
'''Golf''' | '''Golf''' | ||
Line 116: | Line 132: | ||
* [[Karin Buttner-Janz]], Germany | * [[Karin Buttner-Janz]], Germany | ||
+ | * [[Diego Hypolito]], Brazil | ||
* [[Danell Leyva]], United States | * [[Danell Leyva]], United States | ||
* [[Arthur Nory]], Brazil | * [[Arthur Nory]], Brazil | ||
+ | * [[Alexander Renkert]], United States | ||
'''Handball''' | '''Handball''' | ||
Line 134: | Line 152: | ||
* [[Kathleen Kauth]], United States | * [[Kathleen Kauth]], United States | ||
* [[Charline Labonte]], Canada | * [[Charline Labonte]], Canada | ||
+ | * [[Marie-Philip Poulin]], Canada | ||
* [[Caroline Ouellette]], Canada | * [[Caroline Ouellette]], Canada | ||
+ | * [[Angela Ruggiero]], United States | ||
+ | * [[Laura Stacey]], Canada | ||
* [[Sarah Vaillancourt]], Canada | * [[Sarah Vaillancourt]], Canada | ||
Line 157: | Line 178: | ||
* [[Irene de Kok]], The Netherlands | * [[Irene de Kok]], The Netherlands | ||
* [[Rafaela Silva]], Brazil | * [[Rafaela Silva]], Brazil | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Race Walking''' | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Maria Perez]], Spain | ||
'''Rock Climbing''' | '''Rock Climbing''' | ||
Line 164: | Line 189: | ||
'''Rowing''' | '''Rowing''' | ||
+ | * [[Nikki Ayers]], Australia | ||
* [[Robbie Manson]], New Zealand | * [[Robbie Manson]], New Zealand | ||
* [[Lauren Rowles]], Great Britain | * [[Lauren Rowles]], Great Britain | ||
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* [[Louisa Wall]], New Zealand | * [[Louisa Wall]], New Zealand | ||
+ | * [[Portia Woodman-Wickliffe]], New Zealand | ||
'''Sailing''' | '''Sailing''' | ||
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* [[LGBTQ Sports Management]] | * [[LGBTQ Sports Management]] | ||
* [[LGBTQ Track & Field]] | * [[LGBTQ Track & Field]] | ||
+ | * [[Lesbian Professional Basketball Players and Coaches]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 01:44, 15 December 2024
To achieve the status of world champion in a sport is to achieve the pinnacle of success. This list of out LGBTQ individuals have achieved that level and recognition. The diversity of sports and countries represented reveals that competitive superiority in athletics is not dependent on sexual orientation.
It is notable that world champions broadly exists across the LGBTQ spectrum. While many of these individuals did not reveal their sexual orientation during competition, their presence creates a cadre of role models and mentors to others who either have come out or are considering the process of doing so. Many of the individuals who came out prior to winning their world championship status have stated that coming out mentally freed them to better compete by removing the pressure of hiding that aspect of themselves. Those who came out subsequent to their honour discuss the hyper-aggressive culture of bias and homophobia that pressured them to stay in the closet, as well as the financial risk of being publicly out (through loss of sponsorship, for example).
As world champions, these individuals have become recognized individuals nationally and often internationally. They have received many additional honours and awards as a result. Many of them broke down regional barriers and stereotypes, both when they competed and when they were declared victors.
Given all of this, why can there not be a more concerted effort by the group themselves to join together to take a stand on homophobia in sports around the world?
Note that this list of individuals does not include Olympic gold medal athletes, but rather focuses on those who have competed in organized World Championship competitions. We have identified individuals from Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the United States, France, Germany, Great Britain, Scotland, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Belgium. Simply click on their names to access more information on their fascinating biographies.
Arm Wrestling
- Dot Jones, United States
Badminton
- Kamilla Rytter Juhl, Denmark
Baseball
- Haylie McCleney, United States
Basketball
- Jennifer Azzi, United States
- Sue Bird, United States
- Carol Blazejowski, United States
- Candice Dupree, United States
- Desiree Miller, United States
- Cindy Ouellet, United States
- Breanna Stewart, United States
- Sheryl Swoopes, United States
- Penny Taylor, Australia
- Stephanie Wheeler, United States
- Laurie Williams, Great Britain
Bowling
- Scott Norton, United States
Boxing
- Michele Aboro, Great Britain
- Nicola Adams, Great Britain
- Beatriz Ferreira, Brazil
- Emile Griffith, United States
- Kellie Harrington, Ireland
- Christy Martin, United States
- Nesthy Petecio, The Philippines
- Lauren Price, Great Britain
Canoe
- Sandra Forgues, France
- Emma Wiggs, Great Britain
Cricket
Curling
- Bruce Mouat, Scotland
Cycling
- Judith Arndt, Germany
- Camille Balanche, Switzerland
- Perris Benegas, United States
- Katie-George Dunlevy, Ireland
- Missy Giove, United States
- Crystal Lane-Wright, Great Britain
- Rachel McKinnon, Canada
- Graeme Obree, Scotland
- Marie Patouillet, France
- Hannah Roberts, United States
- Petra Rossner, Germany
- Linda Villumsen, New Zealand
- Marianne Vos, The Netherlands
Diving
- Tom Daley, Great Britain
- Mathew Helm, Australia
- Greg Louganis, United States
Equestrian
- Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, Denmark
- Lee Pearson, Great Britain
Fencing
- Tommaso Marini, Italy
Field Hockey
- Alyson Annan, Australia
- Chantal de Bruijn, The Netherlands
- Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel, The Netherlands
- Kim Lammers, The Netherlands
- Anne Veenendaal, The Netherlands
Football/Soccer
- Linda Bresonik, Germany
- Tierna Davidson, United States
- Jill Ellis, United States
- Adrianna Franch, United States
- Sami Grisafe, United States
- Ashlyn Harris, United States
- Lauren Hemp, Great Britain
- Jenni Hermoso, Spain
- Ursula Holl, Germany
- Sarah Huffman, United States
- Steffi Jones, Germany
- Ali Krieger, United States
- Linda Medalen, Norway
- Kelley O'Hara, United States
- Megan Rapinoe, United States
- Briana Scurry, United States
Golf
- Lana Lawless, United States
Gymnastics
- Karin Buttner-Janz, Germany
- Diego Hypolito, Brazil
- Danell Leyva, United States
- Arthur Nory, Brazil
- Alexander Renkert, United States
Handball
- Anja Andersen, Denmark
- Camilla Andersen, Denmark
- Alexandra Lacrabere, France
Ice Hockey
- Gillian Apps, Canada
- Julie Chu, United States
- Nancy Drolet, Canada
- Meghan Duggan, United States
- Jayna Hefford, United States
- Kathleen Kauth, United States
- Charline Labonte, Canada
- Marie-Philip Poulin, Canada
- Caroline Ouellette, Canada
- Angela Ruggiero, United States
- Laura Stacey, Canada
- Sarah Vaillancourt, Canada
Ice Skating
- Brian Boitano, United States
- Jeffrey Buttle, United States
- John Curry, Great Britain
- Randy Gardner, United States
- Ondrej Nepela, Slovakia
- Brian Orser, Canada
- Eric Radford, Canada
- Ronald Robertson, United States
- Johnny Weir, United States
Jiu-Jitsu
- William Seth-Wenzel, Sweden
Judo
- Irene de Kok, The Netherlands
- Rafaela Silva, Brazil
Race Walking
- Maria Perez, Spain
Rock Climbing
- Alex Johnson, United States
Rowing
- Nikki Ayers, Australia
- Robbie Manson, New Zealand
- Lauren Rowles, Great Britain
- Gearoid Towey, Ireland
Rugby
- Louisa Wall, New Zealand
- Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, New Zealand
Sailing
- Jolanta Ogar, Poland
Skiing
- Nat Brown, United States
- Brian Olsen, United States
- Anja Parson, Sweden
- Erik Schinegger, Austria
Speed Skating
- Brittany Bowe, United States
- Sanne van Kerkhof, The Netherlands
- Chris Witty, United States
Squash
- Carin Clonda, Australia
- Jenny Duncalf, Great Britain
- Rachael Grinham, Australia
Surfing
- Keala Kennelly, United States
Swimming
- Mark Chatfield, United States
- Ana Marcela Cunha, Brazil
- Mark Foster, Great Britain
- Theresa Goh, Singapore
- Daniel Kowalski, Australia
- Jeremy Stravius, France
- Ian Thorpe, Australia
Table Tennis
- Kelly Sibley, Great Britain
Tennis
- Gigi Fernandez, Puerto Rico
- Martina Navratilova, United States
Track & Field
- Shawn Barber, Canada - Pole Vaulting
- Kajsa Bergqvist, Sweden - High Jump
- Sabine Braun, Germany - Heptathlete
- Kerron Clement, United States - Hurdles
- Colin Jackson, Great Britain - Hurdles
- Harriet Metcalf, United States
- Steffi Nerius, Germany - Javelin
- Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela - triple jump
- Caster Semenya, South Africa - track
- Marieke Vervoort, Belgium - track
Volleyball
- Larissa Franca, Brazil
- Jackie Silva, Brazil
Weightlifting
- Janae Marie Kroc, United States
- Chris Morgan, Great Britain
Wrestling
- AC Mack, United States
See Also
- LGBTQ Athletes Who Have Won Olympic Gold
- LGBTQ Professional and Amateur Sports Coaches
- LGBTQ Sports Referees and Umpires
- LGBTQ Personal Trainers and Lifestyle Coaches
- LGBTQ Cyclists
- LGBTQ Tennis
- LGBTQ Figure Skaters
- Lesbian Football/Soccer Players
- Professional LGBTQ Mixed Martial Artists
- The Community of LGBTQ Boxers
- LGBTQ Presence in the Equestrian World
- The World of LGBTQ Golf
- LGBTQ Sports Management
- LGBTQ Track & Field
- Lesbian Professional Basketball Players and Coaches