The Tokyo Olympics as a turning point for LGBT athletes? A total of 172 hosts
According to Outsports.com, a website that celebrates the achievements of LGBT athletes, at least 172 LGBT athletes are competing for medals at this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, more than at all previous Olympics combined. Five years ago, Outsports.com counted 56 LGBT Olympians at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil, and 23 at the 2012 Games in London, UK, The Guardian reported.
Outsports.com founder Cyd Zeigler said this year's Olympics are different in that LGBT athletes are self-reporting to their platform to request to be listed, a dramatic shift from the complete opposite five years ago. He said it reflects their pride in being part of the LGBT community. "They don't want to hide it anymore, they want to be recognized as part of the community," said Zeigler, who said this year's Olympics are truly the 'Rainbow Games."One openly LGBT athlete, for example, is British swimmer Tom Daley, who also famously took a photo of himself passing the time in the stands by knitting, which he does in his spare time.When I was younger, I didn't think I would ever achieve anything like this because I am who I am. I hope every LGBT person sees that you can achieve anything," Daley said after achieving Olympic gold this year.
However, the list of Outsports openly LGBT athletes is heavily dominated by women. The most LGBT female athletes are in the discipline of women's soccer, 40 in total. At the opening ceremony, for example, basketball player Sue Bird, engaged to famous soccer player Susan Rapinoe, shone as the flag bearer of the American team. The non-binary skateboarder Alana Smith was also part of the American team this year. New Zealand's transgender speed skater Laurel Hubbard also attracted attention, but after her Olympic failure in the women's over 87kg category, she said goodbye to competing.
