List of LGBT Summer Olympians (1896–2000)

Last updated

There are 136 [lower-alpha 1] modern Summer Olympic athletes, who made their Olympic debut up to and including 2000, who have identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, non-binary, queer, or who have openly been in a same-sex relationship, including one who has also competed at the Winter Olympic Games. The first Olympic Games in which an athlete now known to be LGBT+ competed was the 1900 Summer Olympics, also the first LGBT+ Olympic medalist and first contemporaneously out Olympian. [lower-alpha 1]

The most decorated able-bodied LGBT+ Summer Olympian is Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, with 9 medals including 5 golds. [lower-alpha 1] At least 78 LGBT+ Summer Olympians who debuted up to and including 2000 are medalists (57.35%), of which 37 have at least one gold medal (27.21%). [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2]

Overview

All based on the List of LGBT Summer Olympians (1896–2000)

By sport
SportNumber of Olympians by gender [N 5]
FemaleMaleTotal
Cisgender Transgender CisgenderTransgender
Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics 91 [N 6] 71 [N 7] 18
Basketball pictogram.svg Basketball 66
Volleyball (beach) pictogram.svg Beach volleyball 22
Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing 22
Cycling (road) pictogram.svg Cycling 516
Diving pictogram.svg Diving 77
Equestrian pictogram.svg Equestrian 1212
Fencing pictogram.svg Fencing 112
Football pictogram.svg Football 24226
Gymnastics (artistic) pictogram.svg Gymnastics 145
Handball pictogram.svg Handball 44
Field hockey pictogram.svg Hockey 77
Judo pictogram.svg Judo 44
Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing 617
Swimming pictogram.svg Swimming 51116
Tennis pictogram.svg Tennis 718
Triathlon pictogram.svg Triathlon 11
Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg Volleyball 44
Notes
  1. Including Czechoslovakia
  2. Including Weimar Republic, West Germany and East Germany
  3. Hege Riise represented Norway up to 2000, and Great Britain in 2020. She is only counted for Norway in this table.
  4. Including multi-year appearances of the same Olympian.
  5. Including multi-disciplinary Olympians
  6. Competed in a men's category
  7. Competed in a women's category

Key

Δ Was known to be widely out prior to their most recent Olympic competition; contemporaneously out while competing

 Came out after competing

 Posthumously identified as LGBT+

Summer Olympic athletes and coaches (1900–2000)

AthleteCountrySportGamesMedal(s)Notes
Robert de Monttesquiou 1895.jpg Robert de Montesquiou ΔFlag of France.svg  France Equestrian 1900 Bronze medal icon.svgMontesquiou was a "notorious homosexual", [1] with this influence discussed, though he may have lived a chaste life. [2] He won a bronze medal in the Hacks and hunter combined equestrian event in 1900; [3] prior to 1996, the event was not consistently considered to have been truly Olympic, but is since included. [4] [5] Around the time of his Games appearance in 1900, Montesquiou was noted to feel stifled by the aristocracy he had been born into, which was "fundamentally conservative". [6]
George Poage.png George Poage Flag of the United States.svg  United States Athletics 1904 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgThe first African-American Olympic medalist, Poage was also gay. Black activists wanted a boycott of the 1904 Games in which Poage competed, as crowds would be segregated in St. Louis, but Poage felt it important that he compete. After his success, he moved to the city to teach; though rumors of him being gay were prevalent, and may be the reason he was fired from his teaching job, it was only confirmed by family after his death. [7] [8] [9]
Niels Bukh.jpg Niels Bukh Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Gymnastics 1908, 1912 Bukh was selected to the 1908 Olympic team, but did not compete, and then was coach of the gold-medal winning 1912 gymnastics team. He was out, though not widely; he was outed internationally by a former partner after expressing support for the Nazis. In part, his support came from Adolf Hitler being a personal fan and inviting Bukh to be part of his propaganda (displaying the ideal male aesthetic) for the 1936 Games in Berlin. His biographers suggest that, despite his support for the party; the German occupation of Denmark; and the outing, Bukh never knew of the Nazi stance on homosexuality. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Leif Rovsing, Stockholm 1908 (cropped).png Leif Rovsing Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Tennis 1912 Rovsing was openly gay within his sport and this was accepted; the Danish Football Association, which administed tennis at the time, however, felt his sexuality was at conflict with the working-class ideals of their sport, and in 1917 used evidence of other men visiting Rovsing's home to ban him from competing. The ban was rescinded but reinstated in the 1920s, saying that his "opinions and conduct" were the reason for the ban, which then extended to being excluded from some locker and shower rooms. [16] [17]
VIENNA-CULTURE-SPORTS-2 (Fritzi Loewy at centre).png Fritzi Löwy Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Swimming 1928 Described as "reportedly bisexual" during her career, Löwy remained unmarried. [18]
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-05769, Otto Peltzer.jpg Otto Peltzer Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Germany (Weimar Republic) Athletics 1928, 1932 Peltzer was openly gay, [19] though this was not widely known. [10] In the 1930s, he was arrested by the Nazis for his homosexuality. Sentenced to 18 months in prison, he was released early on the condition that he renounce his involvement in sports. He did but, ultimately, was imprisoned in Mauthausen concentration camp until its liberation in 1945. [20] [21] [22] [23]
Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1938cr.jpg Babe Didrikson Zaharias Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States Athletics 1932 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgWon two gold medals and one silver medal in one Olympic Games. [24] [25] Though she did not identify her sexuality, Didrikson Zaharias was described as a lesbian. As her marriage deteriorated in the 1950s, she became intimate with Betty Dodd, who moved into Didrikson's home towards the end of her life. [26] [27] [28] [29]
Helen Stephens Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States Athletics 1936 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgStephens had a long-time female partner. [17] [30] [31] At the 1936 Games, she and rival Stella Walsh were accused of being men. Rudimentary sex verification checks were carried out; Stephens reported that Hitler himself "[took] hold of [her] fanny" to affirm she was a woman, [32] [33] which she was (an autopsy would show that Walsh was intersex). [34]
Marjorie Larney Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States Athletics 1952, 1956 [17]
Susan McGreivy Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States Swimming 1956 Following her Olympics competition, McGreivy became a lesbian activist. She also helped to defend the Gay Games in front of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. [35] [36]
Norman Elder 06.jpg Norman Elder Canadian Red Ensign (1957-1965).svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Equestrian 1960, 1968 Elder was known to be gay within his community for many years but was widely outed in the 1990s after being charged with indecent assault allegations relating to instances of gay sex in the 1970s. After serving a prison sentence, he fell into poverty and subsequently killed himself in 2003. [37]
Marion Lay Canadian Red Ensign (1957-1965).svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Swimming 1964, 1968 Bronze medal icon.svgLay competed in two Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 1968. [38] After competing, Lay came out as a lesbian, and has contributed to supporting LGBT issues in sport, including organizing Pride Houses. [39]
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-L0817-0318, DDR-Olympiamannschaft, Karin Janz.jpg Karin Büttner-Janz Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Gymnastics 1968, 1972 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg [29]
Mason Phelps Jr. Flag of the United States.svg  United States Equestrian 1968 Selected as an alternate. [40] [41]
Tom Waddell Flag of the United States.svg  United States Athletics 1968 Several years after competing at the Olympic Games, Waddell founded the "Gay Olympics", renamed the Gay Games. He died of AIDS shortly after this. [42]
Mark Chatfield Flag of the United States.svg  United States Swimming 1972 Chatfield came out after retiring from sport, saying he remained closeted for fear of being removed from the team, and then unretired to compete in the Gay Games in 1994. [43]
Peter Prijdekker 1971.jpg Peter Prijdekker Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Swimming 1972 As well as the Olympics, Prijdekker competed at the Gay Games for Great Britain, [44] having previously been banned from his swim team after his partner died of AIDS. [45]
Betty Baxter Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Volleyball 1976 After competing, Baxter became a volleyball coach, but was fired when newspapers outed her as a lesbian. She then helped to organize the Gay Games. [46] [47]
Scott Cranham Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Diving 1976 Cranham came out after his Olympic career, and went on to compete at Gay Games. [48]
Bruce Jenner discus PanAm 1975.jpg Caitlyn Jenner Flag of the United States.svg  United States Athletics 1976 Gold medal icon.svgJenner won the men's decathlon in 1976 [49] before becoming a reality star; when she came out in 2015, she became one of the highest profile transgender individuals. [50] She advocates to prevent trans women from taking part in sports at all levels. [51]
Sandra Kirby Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Rowing 1976 After competing at the Olympics, Kirby started campaigning against female athletes all having to have chromosomal testing in order to compete. [52] She then became a researcher of gender and homophobia in sports, and came out after becoming a professor. [53]
Nancy Lieberman by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg Nancy Lieberman Flag of the United States.svg  United States Basketball 1976 Silver medal icon.svgPreviously dated Martina Navratilova, but stayed closeted even as Navratilova came out. [54]
Greglouganis.jpg Greg Louganis Flag of the United States.svg  United States Diving 1976, 1984, 1988 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgThough he had been living a fairly openly gay life, Louganis publicly came out with a pre-taped video shown at the 1994 Gay Games. [55] [56] A year later, he announced he was HIV-positive in his memoir, Breaking the Surface . [57] In 1984 and 1988, Louganis won gold medals in both diving events, having won platform silver in 1976; [58] [59] he famously hit his head on the diving board in 1988, bleeding, shortly after being diagnosed as HIV-positive, a scenario he said left him "paralyzed with fear". [55]
Gail Marquis Flag of the United States.svg  United States Basketball 1976 Silver medal icon.svgMarried a woman in 2011. [60]
Olivier Rouyer - juillet 2014.JPG Olivier Rouyer Flag of France.svg  France Football 1976 A member of the French football squad, Rouyer came out as gay after retiring from both playing and coaching. [61] [62] [63]
Sir Terence Etherton.jpg Terence Etherton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Fencing 1980 Etherton was named to the team in 1980 but chose to boycott. [64] [65]
Rafael PolinarioFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba Swimming 1980 After competing, Polinario sought asylum in Canada and became a coach for their Paralympic swimming team, particularly his daughter, Anne Polinario. [66] [67]
Jackie Silva Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Volleyball, Beach volleyball 1980, 1984, 1996 Gold medal icon.svgCompeted in volleyball in 1980 and 1984, and won gold in the inaugural beach volleyball competition in 1996. [68] [69]
Sabine Braun Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany / Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Athletics 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 Bronze medal icon.svgBraun is openly lesbian and lives with Beate Peters. [67] [70]
Sherry Cassuto Flag of the United States.svg  United States Rowing 1984, 1988 An alternate in the 1984 Olympics, Cassuto competed in 1988. [71] [72]
Robert Dover ΔFlag of the United States.svg  United States Equestrian 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgKnown as the first widely out Summer Olympian, Dover came out before competing in his second Games in 1988. [73] [10] In 2004, he told reporters that there were many more gay athletes than were out at the Games, suggesting they were closeted just because they were more focused on sport. [74]
Greg Duhaime ΔFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Athletics 1984 Duhaime was openly gay. [75]
Gigi Fernandez.jpg Gigi Fernández ΔFlag of the United States.svg  United States Tennis 1984, 1992, 1996 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgThough Puerto Rican, Fernández competed for the United States at the Olympics. [67] [76] She came out in 1993 [77] and has been with partner Jane Geddes since the 1990s. [78]
Ginny Gilder.jpg Ginny Gilder Flag of the United States.svg  United States Rowing 1984 Silver medal icon.svg [79]
Bruce Hayes Flag of the United States.svg  United States Swimming 1984 Gold medal icon.svgHayes became the first Olympic gold medalist to compete at the Gay Games, which he did in 1990. [67] [76] [80]
Zoe MacKinnon Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Hockey 1984 [81]
Holly Metcalf Flag of the United States.svg  United States Rowing 1984 Gold medal icon.svg [67] [82]
Beate Peters Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany Athletics 1984, 1988 Peters is openly lesbian and lives with Sabine Braun. [67] [70]
Helena Aberg year 2016.jpg Helena Åberg ΔFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Swimming 1988 Åberg's coach was unhappy when she publicly came out in the 1980s, but they reconciled and went on to work together in training for the Olympics. [83]
Mark foster swimmer.jpg Mark Foster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Swimming 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008 Came out widely in 2017. [84]
Athletissima 2012 - Colin Jackson.jpg Colin Jackson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Athletics 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 Silver medal icon.svgJackson denied he was gay in a 2004 autobiography, and again in 2008, before coming out in 2017. [85]
Patrick Jeffrey ΔFlag of the United States.svg  United States Diving 1988, 1996 Jeffrey came out between his Olympic appearances, competing openly in 1996. [86]
Brian Marshall Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Athletics 1988 Came out in 1994. [87]
02.01.2023 - Posse de Ana Moser, Ministra dos Esportes (52623937784) (cropped).jpg Ana Moser Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Volleyball 1988, 1992, 1996 Bronze medal icon.svgMoser became a politician after her sports career; as of 2023 she has a wife. [88]
Jana Novotna 1996.jpg Jana Novotná Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia / Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Tennis 1988, 1992, 1996 Silver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgLived with partner Iwona Kuczyńska from 2010 until Novotná's death in 2017. [89]
Inger Pors Olsen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Rowing 1988, 1996 [67]
Craig Rogerson ΔFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Diving 1988, 1992, 1996 Rogerson was out when he first competed in 1988. [90]
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0627-004, Petra Rossner.jpg Petra Rossner ΔFlag of East Germany.svg  East Germany / Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Cycling 1988, 1992, 2000 Gold medal icon.svgShe began living with then-partner Judith Arndt in 1996. [91]
Mark Tewksbury Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Swimming 1988, 1992 Gold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgA year after his last Olympics, in 1993, Tewksbury anonymously came out on a Canadian radio show discussing homophobia in sport. [92] He publicly came out in 1998. [93]
Dan Veatch Flag of the United States.svg  United States Swimming 1988 Veatch said that, when he went to the Olympics in 1988, he both had not personally dealt with his sexuality, and felt there would have been a lot of pressure to come out as gay as a top-level athlete. He went on to compete at the 1998 Gay Games. [94]
Alyson Annan in 2016.jpg Alyson Annan ΔFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia / Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Hockey 1992, 1996, 2000, 2012, 2016, 2020 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgCompeted as a player for Australia from 1992 to 2000, winning two golds, and as coach for the Netherlands from 2012 to 2020, winning two golds and a silver. She was also the team manager of the Netherlands squad in 2004, when they won a silver medal. [95] At the 2000 Olympics she met her future wife, Dutch player Carole Thate. [96]
Miriam Blasco (mural en Valladolid).jpg Miriam Blasco Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Judo 1992 Gold medal icon.svgMarried Nicola Fairbrother, her opponent in her Olympic gold medal match, in 2016. [97]
Irene de Kok Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Judo 1992 Bronze medal icon.svg [67] [98]
Lin Dunn.JPG Lin Dunn Flag of the United States.svg  United States Basketball 1992 Bronze medal icon.svgAs coach. [99]
Nicola Fairbrother Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Judo 1992, 1996 Silver medal icon.svgMarried Miriam Blasco, her opponent in her Olympic gold medal match, in 2016. [97]
Lawrence Keith Frostad Flag of the United States.svg  United States Swimming 1992 Came out in 2022, saying he had experienced homophobia as part of the national team. [100]
Carl Hester at the 2012 Summer Olympics.jpg Carl Hester ΔFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Equestrian 1992, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 Gold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgHester has competed at six Summer Olympics, [101] and has been publicly out as gay since before his fourth Olympics, at home in the UK. [67] [102]
Mark Leduc Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Boxing 1992 Silver medal icon.svgLeduc spoke anonymously about being gay and an Olympian on a Canadian radio show in 1993, before coming out publicly in 1994. [92]
Conchita Martinez at the 2010 US Open 02.jpg Conchita Martínez ΔFlag of Spain.svg  Spain Tennis 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 Silver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgWas in a relationship with Gigi Fernández in the 1990s. [77] [67]
Marnie McBean Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Rowing 1992, 1996 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgMcBean began coming out within her personal life after competing. [103]
Kike Sarasola, Founder & President, Room Mate Hotels and BeMate.com (26021755600).jpg Enrique Sarasola Jr. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Equestrian 1992, 1996, 2000 [104]
Blyth Tait ΔFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Equestrian 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Gold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgCompeted at four Summer Olympics as an athlete, and as eventing manager in 2008; he was publicly out before the 2004 Games. [105] [74]
Carole Thate ΔFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Hockey 1992, 1996, 2000 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgOut by the 2000 Olympics, where she met her future wife, Australian opponent Alyson Annan. [96] [106]
Anja Andersen 20110907.jpg Anja Andersen ΔFlag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Handball 1996 Gold medal icon.svgHad a relationship with teammate Camilla Andersen at the time of the 1996 Games. [107]
Camilla Andersen ΔFlag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Handball 1996, 2000 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgEntered a civil partnership with Norwegian opponent Mia Hundvin shortly before the 2000 Games; they were the first spouses to directly compete against each other at the Olympics. [107]
Judith Arndt, London 2012 Time Trial - Aug 2012.jpg Judith Arndt ΔFlag of Germany.svg  Germany Cycling 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 Silver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgShe began living with then-partner Petra Rossner in 1996. [91]
Jennifer Azzi Coach USF.jpg Jennifer Azzi Flag of the United States.svg  United States Basketball 1996 Gold medal icon.svgCame out widely in 2016 when introducing fellow gay basketball executive Rick Welts at an event. [108]
Kajsa Bergqvist pa Idrottsgalan 2013.jpg Kajsa Bergqvist Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Athletics 1996, 2000 Bronze medal icon.svgCame out as bisexual in 2011. [109]
Kris Burley Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Gymnastics 1996 Burley is a spokesman for the Canadian Olympic Committee's program to combat homophobia in sport. [110]
Agnete Carlsen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Football 1996 Bronze medal icon.svgEntered a registered partnership with teammate Heidi Støre in 1999. [111]
Natalie Cook at the Welcome Home parade in Sydney.jpg Natalie Cook ΔFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Beach volleyball 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 Gold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgMarried a woman in 2008. [112]
Amanda Cromwell (cropped).jpg Amanda Cromwell Flag of the United States.svg  United States Football 1996 Gold medal icon.svgMarried a woman in 2022. [113] Won the event as part of the team, but did not play. [114]
Michelle Ferris Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Cycling 1996, 2000 Silver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgWas widely out before 2011, when The Age wrote that she had been the first out Australian elite sportswoman; at the time, she explained that if she had ever been asked about her sexuality when competing she would have been out, and did not bring it up herself as she felt it was unrelated to her sport. She also said that her sexuality was known at the time she was competing, she just did not talk about it publicly. [115]
Formiga (08), meio-campista, DSC00910-2012-26-07.jpg Formiga ΔFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Football 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 Silver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgWidely out by the 2020 Games. [116]
Louise Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Football 1996 Widely out by 2008, when she was in a relationship with Renate Lingor. [117] Was part of the squad but did not play. [118]
Tone Haugen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Football 1996 Bronze medal icon.svgAlso competed in the 2002 Gay Games. [119]
Tiia Hautala Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Athletics 1996, 2000, 2004 Came out in 2013. [120]
BJK headshot 2011 5x7 300dpi.jpg Billie Jean King ΔFlag of the United States.svg  United States Tennis 1996, 2000 King was outed by an ex-partner in a lawsuit in 1981, ultimately forcing her retirement in 1983; [121] she did not get a chance to play at the Olympics but did coach the United States women's tennis team to two gold medals, and in 2003 was awarded the International Olympic Committee Women and Sport World Trophy. [122] In 2013, Barack Obama named her to the US delegation for the 2014 Winter Olympics, held in Sochi, as a statement against Russia's homophobic laws. [123]
Daniel Kowalski Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Swimming 1996, 2000 Gold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgCame out in 2010. [124]
Katja Kraus.JPG Katja Kraus Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 1996 Unused substitute. Married to politician Katrin Suder. [125]
Pressekonferenz Kolner Sportjahr 2019-3059.jpg Renate Lingor ΔFlag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgWidely out by 2008, when she was in a relationship with Louise Hansen. [117]
Linda Medalen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Football 1996 Bronze medal icon.svgCame out in 1999. [126]
Ioannes Melissanides MAD VMA 2017.jpg Ioannis Melissanidis ΔFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Gymnastics 1996, 2000 Gold medal icon.svgCame out in 1996. [127] Reportedly the first openly gay Greek modern Olympian to win a gold medal. [128]
Sandra Minnert 2770.jpg Sandra Minnert Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 1996, 2000, 2004 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg [129]
Bente Nordby Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Football 1996, 2000 Gold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgCame out in 2005. [130]
Graeme obree.jpg Graeme Obree Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Cycling 1996 [131]
David Pichler ΔFlag of the United States.svg  United States Diving 1996, 2000 Came out publicly shortly before his Olympic debut in 1996, in an interview at the US trials, when he accused the national coach of being out to get him and his boyfriend. [86]
Hege Riise (2017).jpg Hege Riise ΔFlag of Norway.svg  Norway / Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Football 1996, 2000, 2020 Gold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg [132]
Danni Roche Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Hockey 1996 Gold medal icon.svg [133]
Briana Scurry (13856371004) (cropped).jpg Briana Scurry ΔFlag of the United States.svg  United States Football 1996, 2000, 2004 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgWidely out by 1999. [134]
Guenter Seidel mit U II, CDI Hamburg 2011.JPG Guenter Seidel ΔFlag of Germany.svg  Germany Equestrian 1996, 2000, 2004 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgWas widely out before 2004. [41]
Reidun Seth Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Football 1996 Bronze medal icon.svgAlso competed in the 2002 Gay Games. [119]
Jimmy Sjödin Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Diving 1996 [67] [135]
Heidi Støre Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Football 1996 Bronze medal icon.svgEntered a registered partnership with teammate Agnete Carlsen in 1999. [111]
Rennae Stubbs at the 2010 US Open 01.jpg Rennae Stubbs ΔFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Tennis 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Came out publicly in 2006. [136]
Pia Sundhage Jan 2013.jpg Pia Sundhage ΔFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden / Flag of the United States.svg  United States / Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Football 1996, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgCompeted as a player for Sweden in 1996, the coach of the Sweden women's team in 2016, the coach of the United States women's team in 2008 and 2012, and the coach of the Brazil women's team in 2020. [137] She came out in 2010, saying that she experienced no homophobia in the United States. [138]
20140814 Cheryl Swoopes 2.jpg Sheryl Swoopes Flag of the United States.svg  United States Basketball 1996, 2000, 2004 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSwoopes came out as gay in 2005, and lived with a female partner for six years. She has twice married men. [139] [140] [141]
Lena Videkull Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Football 1996 [142]
Lisa-Marie Vizaniari ΔFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Athletics 1996, 2000 Vizaniari was widely out prior to the 2000 Olympics. [143]
2021-09-21 Fussball, Frauen, Landerspiel, Deutschland - Serbien 1DX 4710 by Stepro.jpg Martina Voss-Tecklenburg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 1996 Had a relationship with Inka Grings that ended in 2000. [144] [145]
USWNT Camp Zama Saskia Webber 2019.jpg Saskia Webber Flag of the United States.svg  United States Football 1996 Gold medal icon.svgWebber was an alternate goalkeeper for the team. [146] She has also played at the Gay Games. [147]
Francilla Agar ΔFlag of Dominica.svg  Dominica Swimming 2000 Agar is openly lesbian and resides in Canada, saying at the time of her Games that she sometimes avoided going back to Dominica due to the attitude of the wider community. [148]
Marilyn Agliotti (2008-08-25).jpg Marilyn Agliotti ΔFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Hockey 2000, 2008, 2012 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgCame out publicly in 2011. [149] [150]
2011-08 Nadine Angerer.JPG Nadine Angerer Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 2000, 2004, 2008 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgAngerer won her first two bronze medals as reserve goalkeeper without playing a match; she was the main goalkeeper in 2008 when she won her third bronze. [151] She came out in 2010. [152]
Carl Blasco.jpg Carl Blasco ΔFlag of France.svg  France Triathlon 2000, 2004 Came out shortly before the 2000 Olympics. [153] [154]
Balian Buschbaum.jpg Balian Buschbaum Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Athletics 2000 Competed in women's events and came out as a transgender man in 2007, retiring early in order to undergo hormone treatment and transition. [155] He continued to coach until 2013. [156]
Robert Costello Flag of the United States.svg  United States Equestrian 2000 [67] [157]
Orlando Cruz Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Boxing 2000 Came out widely in 2012. [158]
EleniDaniilidou.jpg Eleni Daniilidou Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Tennis 2000, 2004, 2008 [67] [159]
Imke Duplitzer.JPG Imke Duplitzer ΔFlag of Germany.svg  Germany Fencing 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 Silver medal icon.svgCame out before 2004 Games. [160] [161]
2018-06-24 Inka Grings-9889.jpg Inka Grings Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 2000 Bronze medal icon.svgGrings is openly bisexual, and has had a relationship with Linda Bresonik. [162] [163]
Peter Haggstrom.jpg Peter Häggström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Athletics 2000 Came out in 2009. [164]
Mathew Helm 1 - Craig Franklin.jpg Mathew Helm ΔFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Diving 2000, 2004, 2008 Silver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgHelm achieved both his medals at the 2004 Games. [165] [166] He was widely out when competing. [167] [168]
Kelly Holmes at Athens 2004 cropped.jpg Kelly Holmes Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Athletics 2000, 2004 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgHolmes came out in 2022, at the time describing her fears of being reprimanded by the military (which she had been in prior to her sporting career) if she came out earlier, as well as worrying about isolation in the sporting community as she did not know any out sportspeople when she was competing. LGBT+ campaigners noted that her interview highlighted how in 2022 there were still barriers to coming out. [169]
NMD19 - Mot programsjefene (47021130804) (cropped).jpg Mia Hundvin ΔFlag of Norway.svg  Norway Handball 2000 Bronze medal icon.svgEntered a civil partnership with Danish opponent Camilla Andersen shortly before the 2000 Games; they were the first spouses to directly compete against each other at the Olympics. [107] They separated three years later; Hundvin has since had relationships with men. [170]
Juan Antonio Jiménez ΔFlag of Spain.svg  Spain Equestrian 2000, 2004, 2024 Silver medal icon.svg [171]
Steffi Jones.jpg Steffi Jones Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Football 2000, 2004 Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgCame out in 2013. [172]
Johan Kenkhuis.jpg Johan Kenkhuis ΔFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Swimming 2000, 2004 Silver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgKenkhuis was widely out prior to the 2004 Games. [173]
Lotte Kiærskou ΔFlag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Handball 2000, 2004 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgBegan openly dating Rikke Skov when Skov joined the Viborg HK handball team in 2003; they split in 2011. [174] [175] [176]
SteveLaybut.jpg Stephen Laybutt Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Football 2000 Came out after his playing career. [177]
Amelie Mauresmo at the Aegon Championships 2014.jpg Amélie Mauresmo ΔFlag of France.svg  France Tennis 2000, 2004 Silver medal icon.svgCame out in 1999, aged 19, upon defeating the world number 1 at the Australian Open, attributing her success to accepting her sexuality. [178] [179]
Lauren Meece Flag of the United States.svg  United States Judo 2000 Meece came out after competing. [180] She then wrote an op-ed saying that Olympians should not be made to be gay role models, saying that she never needed a gay sporting role model (so this and other reasons athletes have come out are "cop outs" covering "ulterior motives"), and that pride and "gay politics" have no place at the Olympics, after having seen Edinanci Silva harassed about being intersex. [181]
Paul O'Brien Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Equestrian 2000 [67] [182]
Helen Richardson Supersixes Finals Day 2011.jpg Helen Richardson-Walsh ΔFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Hockey 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016 Gold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgHelen Richardson and Kate Walsh met on the Great Britain hockey team and started dating in 2008. They married in 2013 [183] and, in 2016, became the first same-sex married couple to win an Olympic gold medal together. [184]
Eurohockey 2015- England v Scotland (20832580351).jpg Kate Richardson-Walsh ΔFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Hockey 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016 Gold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgHelen Richardson and Kate Walsh met on the Great Britain hockey team and started dating in 2008. They married in 2013 [183] and, in 2016, became the first same-sex married couple to win an Olympic gold medal together. [184]
Cheryl Salisbury.jpg Cheryl Salisbury Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Football 2000, 2004 [185]
Victoria Sandell Svensson in Jan 2014.jpg Victoria Sandell Svensson ΔFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Football 2000, 2004, 2008 Widely out prior to the 2008 Games. [186] Her sister-in-law is teammate Cecilia Sandell.
Therese Sjogran.jpg Therese Sjögran Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Football 2000, 2004, 2008 Has been in a relationship with Malin Levenstad. [187]
Stacy Sykora.jpg Stacy Sykora Flag of the United States.svg  United States Volleyball 2000, 2004, 2008 Silver medal icon.svgCame out widely in 2012. [188]
Arjen Teeuwissen ΔFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Equestrian 2000 Silver medal icon.svgWas widely out prior to competing. [67] [75]
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg.jpg Ina-Yoko Teutenberg ΔFlag of Germany.svg  Germany Cycling 2000, 2012 Came out in 2012. [189] [190]
Ian Thorpe 2012.jpg Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Swimming 2000, 2004 Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgThorpe came out as gay in 2014, having often denied this earlier in his career. [191] [192] Later that year he gave a Q&A hosted by the International Olympic Committee in which he discussed challenges he faced in swimming because of his sexuality. [193]
Gearoid Towey Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Rowing 2000, 2004, 2008 [194] [195]
Ji Wallace Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Gymnastics 2000 Silver medal icon.svgCame out in 2005, [196] [197] revealed he has HIV in 2012. [198]
Natalie Williams Flag of the United States.svg  United States Basketball 2000 Gold medal icon.svg [199]
Chris Witty Flag of the United States.svg  United States Cycling 2000 Witty has competed in both Summer and Winter Olympics; she was a flagbearer at her last Games in 2006. She has only won medals in speed skating. With her gold in 2002, she also set a world record. [200] [201] She lives with partner and fellow former speed skater Frouke Oonk. [202] [203]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Based on the information collected on this page
  2. This includes medals won after 2000.
  3. Where athletes have represented multiple countries, competed in multiple sports, and/or at multiple Games, the country/sport/Games they are sorted by is their first country/sport/Games chronologically.
  4. Based on most golds over total medals, then alphabetically by current surname or common nickname. In cases of medals for demonstration events and honourable mentions in artistic events, these are sorted between one bronze and no medals.

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