Meet the record number of out LGBT Olympians competing in the 2016 Rio games
This year’s Olympic games will feature a record number of out LGBT athletes.
In Beijing 2008, just 12 openly LGBT athletes competed, with Australian diver Matthew Mitcham – who went on to win gold – being the only gay man.
Eight years later, however, and there are an estimated 42 LGBT athletes set to compete in Rio.
This is nearly double the 23 openly LGBT athletes who took part in the London 2012 games.
The LGBT athletes come from 13 different countries, spanning 6 continents, with the highest number coming from Great Britain – including Tom Bosworth, Tom Daley, Nicola Adams and married couple Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh.
Outsports – with the aid of Olympic and LGBT historian Tony Scupham-Bilton – have put together an extensive list of the out and proud athletes going for the gold as the Games kick off this weekend.
Check out the names below:
Nicola Adams (Great Britain, boxing
Seimone Augustus (USA, basketball)
Tom Bosworth (Great Britain, race walk)
Dutee Chand (India, track & field)
Tom Daley (Great Britain, diving)
Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel (Netherlands, field hockey)
Lisa Dahlkvist (Sweden, soccer)
Katie Duncan (New Zealand, soccer)
Nilla Fisher (Sweden, soccer)
Larissa França (Brazil, beach volleyball)
Kelly Griffin (USA, rugby)
Edward Gal (Netherlands, equestrian)
Brittney Griner (USA, basketball)
Carl Hester (Great Britain, equestrian)
Michelle Heyman (Australia, soccer)
Mélanie Henique (France, swimming)
Stephanie Labbe (Canada, soccer)
Alexandra Lacrabère (France, handball)
Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden, soccer)
Ari-Pekka Liukkonen (Finland, swimming)
Robbie Manson (New Zealand, rowing)
Hans Peter Minderhoud (Netherlands, equestrian)
Angel McCoughtry (USA, basketball)
Ian Matos (Brazil, diving)
Nadine Müller (Germany, discus)
Marie-Eve Nault (Canada, soccer)
Ashley Nee (USA, kayak whitewater slalom)
Maartje Paumen (Netherlands, field hockey)
Mayssa Pessoa (Brazil, handball)
Jillion Potter (USA, rugby)
Megan Rapinoe (USA, soccer)
Helen Richardson-Walsh (Great Britain, field hockey)
Kate Richardson-Walsh (Great Britain, field hockey)
Carolina Seger (Sweden, soccer)
Caster Semenya (South Africa, track & field)
Martina Strut (Germany, pole vault)
Melissa Tancredi (Canada, soccer)
Susannah Townsend (Great Britain, field hockey)
Sunette Stella Viljoen (South Africa, javelin)
Julia Vasconcelos (Brazil, taekowndo).
Jeffrey Wammes (Netherlands, gymnastics)
Spencer Wilton (Great Britain, equestrian)
Good luck to each and every one of you!
