Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Athletes Who Have Won Olympic Gold"

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[[File:worldchampions.jpg|200px|thumb|left]]
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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 1932 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. 
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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!
 +
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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. 
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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'''
 
'''Australia'''
  
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* [[Matthew Mitcham]], diving; 2008
 
* [[Matthew Mitcham]], diving; 2008
 
* [[Ian Thorpe]], swimming; 2000x3, 2004x2
 
* [[Ian Thorpe]], swimming; 2000x3, 2004x2
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* [[Sharni Williams]], rugby; 2016
  
 
'''Belgium'''
 
'''Belgium'''
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'''Brazil'''
 
'''Brazil'''
  
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* [[Ana Marcela Cunha]], marathon swimming; 2021
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* [[Alana Maldonado]], judo; 2021
 
* [[Jackie Silva]], beach volleyball; 1996
 
* [[Jackie Silva]], beach volleyball; 1996
 
* [[Rafaela Silva]], judo; 2016
 
* [[Rafaela Silva]], judo; 2016
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* [[Gillian Apps]], ice hockey; 2006, 2010, and 2014
 
* [[Gillian Apps]], ice hockey; 2006, 2010, and 2014
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* [[Kadeisha Buchanan]], football/soccer; 2021
 
* [[Jayna Hefford]], ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014
 
* [[Jayna Hefford]], ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014
 
* [[Brianne Jenner]], ice hockey; 2014
 
* [[Brianne Jenner]], ice hockey; 2014
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* [[Stephanie Labbe]], football/soccer; 2021
 
* [[Charline Labonte]], ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014
 
* [[Charline Labonte]], ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014
 
* [[Marnie McBean]], rowing; 1992x2 and 1996
 
* [[Marnie McBean]], rowing; 1992x2 and 1996
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* [[Erin McLeod]], football/soccer; 2021
 
* [[Caroline Ouellette]], ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014
 
* [[Caroline Ouellette]], ice hockey; 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014
 
* [[Brian Pockar]], figure skating; 1980
 
* [[Brian Pockar]], figure skating; 1980
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* [[Rebecca Quinn]], football/soccer; 2021
 
* [[Eric Radford]], figure skating; 2018
 
* [[Eric Radford]], figure skating; 2018
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* [[Kailen Sheridan]], football/soccer; 2021
 
* [[Mark Tewksbury]], swimming; 1982
 
* [[Mark Tewksbury]], swimming; 1982
 
* [[Sarah Vaillancourt]], ice hockey; 2006 and 2010
 
* [[Sarah Vaillancourt]], ice hockey; 2006 and 2010
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'''France'''
 
'''France'''
  
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* [[Guillaume Cizeron]], figure skating; 2022
 
* [[Sandra Forgues]], canoeing; 1996
 
* [[Sandra Forgues]], canoeing; 1996
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* [[Alexandra Lacrabere]], handball; 2021
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* [[Amandine Leynaud]], handball; 2021
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* [[Jeremy Stravius]], swimming; 2012
  
 
'''Germany'''
 
'''Germany'''
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* [[Robin Cousins]], figure skating; 1980
 
* [[Robin Cousins]], figure skating; 1980
 
* [[John Curry]], figure skating; 1976
 
* [[John Curry]], figure skating; 1976
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* [[Tom Daley]], synchronized divind; 2021
 
* [[Carl Hester]], equestrian; 2012
 
* [[Carl Hester]], equestrian; 2012
 
* [[Lee Pearson]], equestrian; 2000x3, 2004x3, 2008x3, 2012, and 2016
 
* [[Lee Pearson]], equestrian; 2000x3, 2004x3, 2008x3, 2012, and 2016
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* [[Lauren Rowles]], rowing; 2016 and 2021
  
 
'''Greece'''
 
'''Greece'''
  
 
* [[Ioannis Melissanidis]], gymnastics; 1996
 
* [[Ioannis Melissanidis]], gymnastics; 1996
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'''Ireland'''
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* [[Katie-George Dunlevy]], cycling; 2021
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* [[Kellie Harrington]], boxing; 2021
  
 
'''New Zealand'''
 
'''New Zealand'''
  
 
* [[Blyth Tait]], equestrian; 1996
 
* [[Blyth Tait]], equestrian; 1996
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* [[Emma Twigg]], rowing; 2021
  
 
'''Norway'''
 
'''Norway'''
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'''Poland'''
 
'''Poland'''
  
* [[Stanislawa Walasiewicz]], track; 1932
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* [[Stanisława Walasiewicz]], track; 1932
  
 
'''Puerto Rico'''
 
'''Puerto Rico'''
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'''Slovakia'''
 
'''Slovakia'''
  
* [[Andrej Nepela]], figure skating; 1972
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* [[Ondrej Nepela]], figure skating; 1972
  
 
'''Sweden'''
 
'''Sweden'''
  
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* [[Sandra Naeslund]], ski cross; 2022
 
* [[Anja Parson]], downhill skiing; 2006
 
* [[Anja Parson]], downhill skiing; 2006
 
* [[Pia Sundhage]], soccer/football; 2008 and 2012
 
* [[Pia Sundhage]], soccer/football; 2008 and 2012
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* [[Marilyn Agliotti]], field hockey; 2008 and 2012
 
* [[Marilyn Agliotti]], field hockey; 2008 and 2012
 
* [[Chantal de Bruijn]], field hockey; 2006
 
* [[Chantal de Bruijn]], field hockey; 2006
* [[Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel], field hockey; 2012
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* [[Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel]], field hockey; 2012
 
* [[Kim Lammers]], field hockey; 2012
 
* [[Kim Lammers]], field hockey; 2012
 
* [[Maartje Paumen]], field hockey; 2008 and 2012
 
* [[Maartje Paumen]], field hockey; 2008 and 2012
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* [[Kerron Clement]], track; 2008 and 2012
 
* [[Kerron Clement]], track; 2008 and 2012
 
* [[Babe Didrikson Zaharias]], javelin and hurdles; 1932
 
* [[Babe Didrikson Zaharias]], javelin and hurdles; 1932
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* [[Stefanie Dolson]], basketball; 2021
 
* [[Meghan Duggan]], ice hockey; 2018
 
* [[Meghan Duggan]], ice hockey; 2018
 
* [[Abby Dunkin]], basketball; 2016
 
* [[Abby Dunkin]], basketball; 2016
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* [[Megan Rapinoe]], football/soccer; 2012
 
* [[Megan Rapinoe]], football/soccer; 2012
 
* [[Louise Ritter]], high jump; 1988
 
* [[Louise Ritter]], high jump; 1988
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* [[Angela Ruggiero]], ice hockey; 1998
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* [[Briana Scurry]], football/soccer; 1996 and 2004
 
* [[Helen Stephens]], sprinting; 1936
 
* [[Helen Stephens]], sprinting; 1936
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* [[Breanna Stewart]], basketball; 2016 and 2021
 
* [[Sheryl Swoopes]], basketball; 1996, 2000 and 2005
 
* [[Sheryl Swoopes]], basketball; 1996, 2000 and 2005
 
* [[Diana Taurasi]], basketball; 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016
 
* [[Diana Taurasi]], basketball; 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016
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* [[Stephanie Wheeler]], basketball; 2004 and 2008
 
* [[Stephanie Wheeler]], basketball; 2004 and 2008
 
* [[Chris Witty]], speed skating; 1998 and 2002
 
* [[Chris Witty]], speed skating; 1998 and 2002
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'''Venezuela'''
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* [[Yulimar Rojas]], Triple Jump; 2021
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==See Also==
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* [[World Sports Champions Who Identify as LGBTQ]]
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* [[LGBTQ Professional and Amateur Sports Coaches]]
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* [[LGBTQ Sports Referees and Umpires]]
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* [[LGBTQ Personal Trainers and Lifestyle Coaches]]
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* [[LGBTQ Cyclists]]
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* [[LGBTQ Tennis]]
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* [[LGBTQ Figure Skaters]]
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* [[Lesbian Football/Soccer Players]]
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* [[Professional LGBTQ Mixed Martial Artists]]
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* [[The Community of LGBTQ Boxers]]
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* [[LGBTQ Presence in the Equestrian World]]
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* [[The World of LGBTQ Golf]]
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* [[LGBTQ Sports Management]]
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* [[LGBTQ Track & Field]]
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* [[Lesbian Professional Basketball Players and Coaches]]
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==Further Reading/Research==
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* http://inmagazine.ca/2018/02/important-moments-history-lgbt-olympians/
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* https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-openly-gay-olympians-180968125/
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Revision as of 20:08, 6 August 2022

Worldchampions.jpg

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 1932 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

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Denmark

France

Germany

Great Britain

Greece

Ireland

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Puerto Rico

Slovakia

Sweden

The Netherlands

United States

Venezuela

See Also

Further Reading/Research


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