Top 10 LGBTQ+ Athletes You Need to Know About

LGBTQ+ representation in sport is finally on the rise. With more and more athletes able to be open about who they are, we're seeing outdated stereotypes challenged and new queer heroes take home gold. Here are our top 10 athletes who are inspiring the world and proving sports can be a place for everyone.

1). Adam Rippon

The world couldn’t keep their eyes off Adam at the 2018 Winter Olympics. The US figure skater has been blessed with natural charism and is proudly and unapologetically gay. Prior to these games, the Winter Olympics had never had an openly gay skater and he’s been a role model to LGBTQ+ people everywhere ever since. At a news conference following the games he told fans “I can’t tone it down … I’ve got so many messages from kids all over the country — I’m getting so emotional thinking about it — I think that’s why it’s so important. I think as an athlete I use this platform to my advantage. I think it’s giving my skating a greater purpose.”

2). Ramona Bachmann

Ramona Bachmann is a Swiss footballer who came out on a global stage during the Women’s FIFA World Cup 2015, when she announced her relationship with fellow teammate Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. She was instrumental in Switzerland qualifying for the World Cup and one of the highest scorers for the team that season!

3). Parinya Charoenphol

Parinya, who also goes by the colloquial name Nong Toom, is a thai boxer and former Muay Thai Champion. She transitioned at 18, after being aware of her gender identity from a very young age. Throughout her career she has continually stood up to gender stereotypes within the male-dominated sport. On top being a champion thai boxer, she is a model, actress and teacher of Muay Thai and aerobics!

4). Gareth Thomas

The former Wales rugby captain has been an inspiration to queer people everywhere since coming out as gay in 2009. Then last year, he made headlines when he came out as HIV positive. He revealed his HIV status in order to challenge the stigma and discrimination that still exists today around the virus. Since sharing this, he has had support from celebrities across the country, including Prince Harry who shared a message on social media saying "Gareth, you are an absolute legend! In sharing your story of being HIV+, you are saving lives and shattering stigma, by showing you can be strong and resilient while living with HIV.”

5). Nicola Adams OBE

Nicola is one of Britain’s greatest boxers to date. The open bisexual won the country’s first ever female boxing Gold medal in the 2012 Olympics Games and became a reigning champion at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. In honour of her achievement in boxing and as an LGBTQ+ role model she was appointed an OBE in 2016.

6). Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh

The Olympic gold winning hockey couple are a shining example of the beauty of queer love. The Team GB players were on the same winning team at Rio in 2016 and this was their fourth Olympics together as a couple. Kate opened up about their relationship to The Telegraph “We met as teenagers, playing hockey, and became team-mates and friends. We won our first caps together in 1999, but it wasn’t until just before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 that we got together as a couple.” If you thought this was cute enough, their family just got a little bit bigger in January this year when they announce the birth of their first child!

7). Fallon Fox

Fallon Fox is an American retired Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter and was the first openly transgender athlete in MMA history. She came out early in her career, after a reporter found out she was trans and threatened to out her. She explained to The Guardian “That sucked. I expected that someone was going to out me; you just can’t go through life with a microscope on your career without someone delving into your past a little bit.” Her trans identity resulted her facing a large amount of hate, especially form the media, with many undermining her achievments arguing that she should not be able to compete. She has been outspoken against this and in support of trans athletes everywhere, she explains “People have used those arguments to feed bigotry in the past: they would say, for example, that black people have larger heel bones, bone structure, maybe they can stand in the sun longer than caucasians ... That’s an unfair advantage! What they’re doing is using people’s ignorance of biology and their hatred of a particular group, mushing that all together in one big ball, and it has the effect of convincing the most gullible.”

8). Bianca Sierra and Stephany Mayor

Bianca and her partner Stephany made history when they became the first openly lesbian athletes in Mexican history. The professional footballers went public with their relationship in 2016 and despite advice from their coach not to do so, have been happily out and competing ever since!

9). Brittany Bowe

Professional skater Brittany has competed in the last two Winter Olympic Games. She has chosen not to publicly put a label on her sexuality but has been open about her long-term relationship with Manon Kamminga, a dutch skater. She has spoken of their relationship and the benefits of dating someone with similar goals and aspirations.

10). Laurel Hubbard

Last, but not least, Laurel is a New Zealand weightlifter who is hoping to qualify for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. The record-breaking athlete transitioned in her mid 30’s and has been competing in women’s weightlifting ever since. She was sadly injured in 2016 and expected her career to be over, however she has managed to make a come-back and is someone to look out for in the Olympics later this year!