According to OutSports, at least 155 out LGBTQ athletes from 25 countries will compete in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
In fact, historically, LGBTQ athletes have been so successful that if they were to form their own country (Team LGBTQ), they would place 7th overall in the all-time Olympic medal count.
From historic achievements, to personal journeys of resilience, these athletes not only embody sporting excellence but are contributing to the rich history of LGBTQ representation at the highest level of sport.
Sha’Carri Richardson, she/her | (USA – Track & Field)
EUGENE, OREGON – JUNE 22: Sha’Carri Richardson crosses the finish line of the women’s 100 meter semi-final on Day Two of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field on June 22, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Sha’Carri Richardson has etched her name into the annals of Track and Field with her unmatched blend of speed, style and resilience. Her journey to becoming one of the fastest women on Earth began at Louisiana State University. As a Freshman, she shattered records at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships–including Allyson Felix’s 2004 200-meter Olympic record–setting the stage for her meteoric rise in the sport.
Years later, Richardson had an amazing performance at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials and secured her spot on Team USA for Tokyo. However, due to a controversial suspension after testing positive for THC, she was ineligible to compete in Tokyo. While heartbreaking, Richardson faced the moment with maturity and candor, acknowledging her responsibility while grappling with personal tragedy, the loss of her biological mother.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: Sha’Carri Richardson celebrates after winning the Women’s 200m during the New York Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
In 2023, she made her triumphant return at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest. Soaring through the 100-meter final in 10.65 seconds, Richardson took her place as the world champion, Reflecting on her journey she stated, “I’m not back, I’m better,” underscoring her growth as both an athlete and a person.
Aside from being the fastest woman in the world, Richardson is widely celebrated for her distinctive style, reminiscent of the iconic Florence Griffith Joyner, and her openness about her bisexuality. In 2015, she publicly came out as bisexual on X (formerly Twitter).
Catch Sha’Carri Richardson in action at the Paris Olympics on August 1 via NBC Sports, where she will undoubtedly captivate the world and give a definitive showing of what it means to be the “fastest woman alive!”
Campbell Harrison, he/him | (Australia – Sport Climbing)
INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA – JUNE 29: Campbell Harrison of Australia competes during the men’s lead qualification of the IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2024 on June 29, 2024 in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Marco Kost/Getty Images)
Campbell Harrison is an Australian sport climber from whose dedication and talent have made him a standout athlete in the climbing community. Harrison first discovered his interest in climbing at the age of eight, thinking it would be a “cool hobby to take up.” By 2015, he had won his first Australian title, marking a transition in his professional career.
His dedication to the sport continued to pay off years later in 2022 when he secured two titles at the Sport Climbing Australian National Championship where he dominated both the Lead and Combined events. A year later, he won the gold in the Lead & Boulder combined event at the Oceania Olympic Qualifier and was selected to represent Team Australia in the Paris Olympics.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Campbell Harrison is a known advocate for LGBTQ visibility in sport climbing. Coming out as gay in 2021, Harrison has used his platform to inspire and support other queer athletes. After qualifying for the Olympics, he kissed his partner in celebration. His visibility as an openly gay athlete at the Olympics is groundbreaking, as there were no out LGBTQ sport climbers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Harrison’s is incredibly transparent on the need for greater LGBTQ representation in sport. In his own words, “Competing as a queer athlete, I always hope that I can show other young queer climbers that being gay doesn’t have to be a barrier to participation in sport, but we can also be the best if we set our mind to it.
Watch Campbell Harrison compete in Lead and Bouldering on August 5th at Le Bourget Venue or on NBC Sports.
Nikki Hiltz, they/them | (USA – Track & Field)
Nikki Hiltz (they/them) is representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics
Nikki Hiltz, a 29-year-old hailing from Aptos, California, has become renowned for their athletic prowess and advocacy for LGBTQ visibility. Since signing with Adidas in 2018, their professional career has been marked by accomplishments such as winning the 2019 USATF 1 Mile Road Championship–where they set a new course record–and placing third in the 1,500-meter race at the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championship that same year.
Hiltz publicly came out as transgender and nonbinary in March 2021 on the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Despite numerous challenges, including a World Athletic’s ban preventing transgender women from competing in women’s events, they have continued to pursue their dream. In an interview with Runner’s World, Hiltz said, “Going to the Olympics is a dream… but it’s also a dream of mine to take testosterone or grow facial hair or have top surgery.” On the last day of Pride month in 2024, their perseverance paid off when they won the women’s 1,500-meter race at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic trials running a blistering 3:55.33. Their incredible performance broke a record and was the second-fastest time by an American in the event. After breaking the American record at the US Olympic trials, they thanked the LGBTQ community for their support, saying, “I wanted to run this one for my community… all the LGBTQ folks. You guys brought me home that last hundred [meters].
Nikki Hiltz (they/them) is representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics
Hiltz’s impact extends far beyond athletics. In February 2020, they founded Pride 5k to create a safe space for queer people. This year, the 2024 Pride 5k raised money for Point of Pride, a nonprofit organization that provides financial aid and direct support to trans folks in need of health and wellness care.
Tune in to NBC Sports on August 6th to see them take on the world in the 1st round of the women’s 1,500meter race.
Timo Cavelius, he/him | (Germany – Judo)
BERCY, FRANCE, 5 FEBRUARY: Timo Cavelius of Germany (blue judogi), 26, prepares to grip Alpha Oumar Djalo of France, 26, as their u81kg (light-middleweight) quarter-final contest goes into extra-time with no score for either side. Cavelius eventually won the contest and qualified for the final during day 2 of the 2023 Paris Judo Grand Slam (4-5 February) at the Accorhotels Arena in Bercy, Paris, France. (Photo by David Finch/Getty Images)
At the Paris Olympics, four-time Grand Slam medallist Timo Cavelius will represent not just Germany, but a powerful symbol of courage and the need for inclusivity in the world of Judo. From Hof, Germany, Cavelius secured his spot on Team Germany following a second-place finish at a major meet in Kazakhstan earlier this year.
But he is more than just a judoka; he’s a trailblazer. Ranked 21st in the world, Cavelius has already made history as the first out gay male judoka to compete in Olympic judo. While he has been out to his friends and family since he was 15-years-old, he only came out publicly in 2020. In an interview with Judo Insider, Cavelius thought back to when he came out on Facebook, saying, “In sport, the topic was taboo for me for a long time… I was afraid that the others would no longer take me seriously.” While his then-teammates were accepting, he understands that many of the top judokas are from countries where being gay is still taboo; a stigma that has led some to view him as weak. Despite this, Cavelius has embraced his identity proudly, supported by a strong network of friends and family.
Summing up his philosophy, Cavelius says, “My creed is very clear: there is no longer any room for homophobia today, not even in professional sports.”
Don’t miss Timo Cavelius on July 30th as he steps onto the mat in Paris to make history and bring home a gold medal for Germany!
Hergie Bacyadan, he/him | (Philippines – Boxing)
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – NOVEMBER 18: Shahrbano Mansouriyan Semiromi of Iran (red) competes against Hergie Bacyadan of Philippines (black) in the final match Women’s 65kg Sanda Competition during the 2015 World Wushu Championships at Istora Senayan on November 18, 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
Meet Hergie Bacyadan, the 29-year-old Filipino boxer poised to make waves at the Paris Olympics. Bacyadan’s journey to Paris is marked by his various standout performances, such as when he won the 2023 World Championship in women’s vovinam–a Vietnamese martial art that combines elements of boxing, judo, and wushu.
While he is a transgender man, Bacyadan has not undergone hormone replacement therapy, and thus is eligible to compete in Women’s boxing. As with any trailblazer, he has had to overcome his share of obstacles. Just last year, after winning the 2023 World Championship, he had to defend himself amidst calls for the nullification of his gold medal due to being a “man.” In response, Bacyadan proudly asserted that he has never taken testosterone.
Outside the ring, he is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights in the Philippines. Recently, he and his wife publicly supported legislation that would protect people from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Bacyadan will be competing in Women’s boxing 75kg (165 lbs), the heaviest weight class in Olympic boxing. Competing on July 31st, he aims to bring home a gold medal for the Philippines, the first in history. If he can succeed, Bacyadan will have also made history as the first trans male athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
Bacyadan is driven by his unwavering dedication to his nation, his community, the Kalinga tribe, and his family. In explaining his thoughts on representing the Filipino LGBTQ community on the world stage, he told ABS-CBN News,“…to our fellow [members of] the LGBTQ+ community, I’m proud to be one of those who were included in the Paris Olympics…”
Check out the OutSports LGBTQ Olympians database to filter by country, sport and competition category to learn about the hundreds of out LGBTQ athletes competing in Paris.
To ensure comprehensive and fair coverage of LGBTQ olympians, GLAAD’s 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Guide was created in collaboration with Athlete Ally and Pride House France, and produced by the GLAAD Media Institute, GLAAD’s training, research and consulting division. Learn more at GLAAD.org/Institute and support GLAAD’s work here.
