Finnish hammer throw champion Silja Kosonen comes out as gay after European gold
August 20, 2026Finnish hammer thrower Silja Kosonen has publicly come out as gay after winning the European women’s hammer title in Birmingham, capping the most successful week of her career with a deeply personal announcement.
The 23-year-old secured gold at the European Athletics Championships with a winning throw that was nearly two metres ahead of her closest competitor. The result makes her only the sixth Finnish woman ever to win an individual gold medal at the event, regarded as Europe’s leading track and field championship.
Kosonen is already a two-time Olympian. She reached the Olympic final in Tokyo in 2021 at age 18, then finished fifth at Paris 2024. She is widely expected to compete again at Los Angeles 2028. According to research by sports historian Tony Scupham-Bilton, Kosonen is the first publicly out gay hammer thrower, in either the women’s or men’s Olympic events.
Among the spectators in Birmingham was her girlfriend, Senni Viren, a Finnish international futsal player. Viren represents Finland’s national team, currently ranked 17th in the world by FIFA in the women’s futsal standings, and is one of the leading players in Finland’s domestic league, finishing last season as top scorer with 33 goals.
The couple met earlier this year in Raisio, the southwest Finnish town where they both live, and have been together since the beginning of the year.
Speaking to Finnish public broadcaster YLE after her victory, Kosonen described the impact of both the title and her relationship with Viren:
“Since I met Senni, life has started to ‘smile’ in a different way. I have found another person with whom I can be myself. Every day is just so wonderful and fun. It has really brightened up a lot of things in every way.”
Kosonen said it meant a great deal to have Viren in the stands.
“I was already dreaming about the moment when I would be able to celebrate with her on the sidelines. It was great,” she said.
Her European title has generated major attention in Finland. Kosonen revealed that President Alexander Stubb personally contacted her to congratulate her on bringing home the gold. In an interview with Finnish outlet Iltalehti, she said that speaking publicly about her relationship was not part of a pre-arranged plan. Instead, she chose to talk openly in the moment.
“Most of the messages have been really positive,” she said. “We didn’t plan on making it public in any way in advance. I felt like I wanted to enjoy the moment and share the joy with others.”
After the championships, Kosonen and Viren spent time together in Manchester, a city known for its vibrant LGBTQ community. Kosonen was one of several LGBTQ Finnish athletes competing in Birmingham. Two-time Olympian Senni Salminen took part in the triple jump, while previous out Finnish Olympians include swimmer Ari-Pekka Liukkonen and former heptathlete Tiia Hautala. Finland has also seen strong LGBTQ representation in women’s ice hockey at the Winter Games.
With a European title secured and strong support at home, Kosonen now returns to training as she builds toward a likely third Olympic appearance in Los Angeles.
Why This Matters for the Workplace
Kosonen’s decision to come out at a high point in her professional life reflects a reality that is increasingly relevant beyond sport. When high-performing LGBTQ professionals feel safe and supported to be open about who they are, they build deeper trust with colleagues, communicate more clearly and participate more fully in their organisations’ cultures.
For employers, her story is a reminder that inclusion is not an abstract value. It directly shapes performance, engagement and retention. Creating environments where LGBTQ people can thrive openly benefits teams, customers and leadership pipelines.
Businesses that want to move from intention to action can learn from platforms that centre LGBTQ talent and allies. myGwork connects inclusive employers with LGBTQ professionals and graduates worldwide, helping organisations build teams where people like Silja Kosonen, and their colleagues, can bring their full selves to their careers. Leaders who care about inclusion can take a practical next step by signing up for myGwork and strengthening their LGBTQ workplace strategy.
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