A Record Number Of Out Athletes Are Participating In The Paralympics

Following several stunning displays and beautiful stories from LGBTQ+ athletes over the last month at the Olympics, “Team LGBTQ+” will look to have an equally strong showing at the Paralympics, which are starting next week.

Already, a record number of out athletes will take part in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Out of the 539 athletes expected to participate in 22 different sports, at least 23 of those athletes will be out and taking part in at least 12 of the sports. That means about 4 percent of the Paralympians will be LGBTQ+ athletes.

According to Outsports, who has compiled the list so far, that is almost double the number that participated in the last Paralympics, when 12 out athletes participated at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.

While the United States led the way with the most out athletes on their team – both at the 2016 Paralympics and the most recent Olympics – this time they’re actually second in the number of out Paralympians they have. Seven LGBTQ+ athletes are on Team USA, while eight are competing on Team Great Britain.

According to LGBTQ Nation, two out athletes are on Team Australia, another two with Team Canada. Ireland, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Israel each have one out Paralympian in their squads.

Just like the Olympics had their first openly trans and non-binary competitors this summer, the Paralympics will also have their first out trans and non-binary competitor. Robyn Lambird will represent Australia in the 100-meter women’s wheelchair race, although she identifies as non-binary.

“I’ve been really training hard for the past six years, so to end up on the podium really would really be a dream come true,” Lambird told MamaMia earlier this week.

Otherwise, nearly all the out athletes at the games will be women. The only out male athlete is Great Britain’s Lee Pearson, an 11-time gold medalist in para-equestrian sports.

At the Last month, more than 180 out Olympians earned more medals than almost 200 of the national teams competing. Out Paralympians are hoping for successful games too, for themselves and their teams, and for Team LGBTQ+ as well.

“I love seeing our out Paralympians highlighted because it shows that while we still have a ways to go, as a society, we have become more accepting therefore people are able to be their authentic selves and feel safe. It gives me great pride to be part of such a diverse trailblazing group of people,” said out Paralympian Monique Matthews, who will compete in sitting volleyball for Team USA.

The Paralympics have been held regularly following the Summer Olympic Games since 1960, and the Winter Paralympics have followed the Winter Olympics since 1976. Athletes with all kinds of mental and physical challenges are allowed to participate.

Like the Olympics, they were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they are still officially referred to as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The Paralympics will open with the Opening Ceremony on August 24, 2021, and starting the next day, 539 different sporting events will take place until the Games close on September 5. Second Gentlemen of the United States Doug Emhoff will represent the United States at the Games’ opening.

Here’s the list of Team USA’s out Paralympics athletes and the sports they’ll be participating in:

Cycling
Monica Sereda

Goalball
Asya Miller

Sitting Volleyball
Monique Matthews

Triathlon
Hailey Danz

Wheelchair Basketball
Kaitlyn Eaton
Courtney Ryan

Wheelchair Fencing
Terry Hayes

The number of out athletes may change over time. Visit the ever-updating total list on Outsports.

Read related myGwork articles here:

LGBTQ+ Athletes Win More Medals At The Olympics Than Nearly 200 Other Nations

Quinn Becomes The First Out Trans Athlete In The History Of The Olympics To Win Gold

Petition Against Trans Athletes At The Olympics Gathers 21,000 Signatures

Olympics Sparks Homophobic Commentary in Russia

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