LGBTQ Athletes Who Have Won Olympic Gold
Athletes consider winning the Olympic Gold the pinnacle of success. It confirms that they are at the very top of their sport and the best in the world. The global publicity surrounding this achievement is unmatched by any other sporting endeavor.
For LGBTQ athletes, an Olympic gold medal can mean even more. It can represent the fact that achieving the very best in their pursuit is not dependent on sexual orientation, but rather athletic ability and prowess.
There is no shortage of evidence of this fact throughout history. The earliest LGBTQ athletes that we have identified to win Olympic was in 1936 with lesbians Stanisława Walasiewicz of Poland in the 100m sprint and Babe Didrikson Zaharias of the United States in javelin and hurdles. Of particular note, Didrikson Zaharias went on to be declared the Female Athlete of the Twentieth Century by the Associated Press. As well, Walasiewicz was determined to be intersex after an autopsy on her death.
The best performance has come from Great Britain's Lee Pearson who has won an astounding eleven gold medals in equestrian events. This is followed by Australia's Ian Thorpe who won 5 golds in swimming events. Four medals have been won by Americans Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi and by Canadians Jayna Hefford, Charline Labonte and Caroline Ouellette. Several of the athletes listed below are notable for being the most decorated athletes in their country's history!
Our survey has found that the significant majority of LGBTQ Olympic gold winning athletes consists of 74 per cent lesbians (51) and 26 per cent gay (18) at the time of winning their medals. This preponderance of out lesbian athletes continues today in all professional sports - lesbians are much more comfortable with identifying their sexual preference than gay men. The vast majority of LGBTQ athletes were out at the time of winning their medals though several revealed their sexual orientation later in life. History has yet to be made with a transgender athlete, though Caitlyn Jenner's life story should be noted with her winning gold prior to transitioning.
It is also interesting to note that certain countries tend to excel in particular sports. Australia dominates in water sports; Canada in ice hockey and figure skating; Denmark in handball; The Netherlands in field hockey; and the United States in basketball and track.
We have identified the following LGBTQ athletes to win Olympic gold. Simply click on their names to reveal their fascinating biographies.
Australia
- Alyson Annan, field hockey; 1996 and 2000
- Natalie Cook, beach volleyball; 2000
- Daniel Kowalski, swimming; 2000
- Matthew Mitcham, diving; 2008
- Ian Thorpe, swimming; 2000x3, 2004x2
Belgium
- Marieke Vervoort, track & field; 2012
Brazil
- Jackie Silva, beach volleyball; 1996
- Rafaela Silva, judo; 2016
Canada
- Gillian Apps, ice hockey; 2006, 2010, and 2014
- Jayna Hefford, ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014
- Brianne Jenner, ice hockey; 2014
- Charline Labonte, ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014
- Marnie McBean, rowing; 1992x2 and 1996
- Caroline Ouellette, ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014
- Brian Pockar, figure skating; 1980
- Eric Radford, figure skating; 2018
- Mark Tewksbury, swimming; 1982
- Sarah Vaillancourt, ice hockey; 2006 and 2010
Denmark
- Anja Andersen, handball; 1996
- Camilla Andersen, handball; 1996 and 2000
- Lotte Kiaerskou, handball; 2000 and 2004
- Rikke Skov, handball; 2004
France
- Sandra Forgues, canoeing; 1996
Germany
- Karin Buttner-Janz, gymnastics; 1972
- Petra Rossner, cycling; 1992
Great Britain
- Nicola Adams, boxing; 2012 and 2016
- Robin Cousins, figure skating; 1980
- John Curry, figure skating; 1976
- Carl Hester, equestrian; 2012
- Lee Pearson, equestrian; 2000x3, 2004x3, 2008x3, 2012, and 2016
Greece
- Ioannis Melissanidis, gymnastics; 1996
New Zealand
- Blyth Tait, equestrian; 1996
Norway
- Vibeke Skofterud, cross country skiing; 2010
Poland
- Stanisława Walasiewicz, track; 1932
Puerto Rico
- Gigi Fernandez, tennis; 1992 and 1996
Slovakia
- Ondrej Nepela, figure skating; 1972
Sweden
- Anja Parson, downhill skiing; 2006
- Pia Sundhage, soccer/football; 2008 and 2012
The Netherlands
- Marilyn Agliotti, field hockey; 2008 and 2012
- Chantal de Bruijn, field hockey; 2006
- Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel, field hockey; 2012
- Kim Lammers, field hockey; 2012
- Maartje Paumen, field hockey; 2008 and 2012
- Ireen Wust, speed skating; 2006, 2010, and 2018
United States
- Jen Armbruster, goalball; 1996
- Seimone Augustus, basketball; 2008 and 2012
- Jennifer Azzi, basketball; 1996
- Sue Bird, basketball; 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016
- Brian Boitano, figure skating; 1988
- Kerron Clement, track; 2008 and 2012
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias, javelin and hurdles; 1932
- Meghan Duggan, ice hockey; 2018
- Abby Dunkin, basketball; 2016
- Bruce Hayes, swimming; 1984
- Angela Hucles, football/soccer; 2004 and 2008
- Bruce Jenner/Caitlyn Jenner, decathlon; 1976
- Allison Jones, downhill skiing; 2006
- Greg Louganis, diving; 1984
- Harriet Metcalf, rowing; 1984
- Angel McCoughtry, basketball; 2012
- Asya Miller, goalball and discuss; 2000 and 2008
- Megan Rapinoe, football/soccer; 2012
- Louise Ritter, high jump; 1988
- Helen Stephens, sprinting; 1936
- Sheryl Swoopes, basketball; 1996, 2000 and 2005
- Diana Taurasi, basketball; 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016
- Abby Wambach, football/soccer; 2004 and 2012
- Stephanie Wheeler, basketball; 2004 and 2008
- Chris Witty, speed skating; 1998 and 2002
See Also
- World Sports Champions Who Identify as LGBTQ
- 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
