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The 2024 Olympics in Paris, France are nearly here, and we could not be more excited!
Every time the Olympics come around, it's a chance for some of the best athletes from around the world to get together, compete, and celebrate — and many of those elite athletes happen to be part of the global LGBTQ+ community!
While the world of sports is often unkind to queer people, the Olympics has been a place where queer athletes like Greg Louganis, Sue Bird, Tom Daley, Megan Rapinoe, and Adam Rippon have become beloved international stars. And now, it's time for another generation of LGBTQ+ athletes to rise to the occasion.
Here are some of the LGBTQ+ athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. (We will be updating this list regularly as the events get closer.)
1. Dan Jervis, Great Britain, Swimming
Jervis, who came out as gay in 2022, is a British swimmer who competes in the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyle events.
2. Robbie Manson, New Zealand, Rowing
Manson is a rower and OnlyFans content creator who qualified for the Paris Olympics in September of last year.
3. Emma Twigg, New Zealand, Rowing
New Zealand rower Emma Twigg already has a gold medal for Team New Zealand from the Tokyo Olympics, where she won in the women's single sculls rowing event. The Paris Olympics will be her fifth Olympics, and the second since she came out.
4. Campbell Harrison, Australia, Climbing
Harrison is a competitive climber from Australia who qualified for the Paris Olympics in November of last year. In the post he made about qualifying, he thanked his queer community for support, saying, "May those who detest us forever fuck off."
5. Tom Daley, Great Britain, Diving
British diver Tom Daley will return for his fifth Olympics this year in Paris! He won bronze medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, and won his first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the men's sycnronized 10-meter platform diving event with diving partner Matty Lee.
Daley lives in Los Angeles with his husband Dustin Lance Black and their two children.
6. Sha'Carri Richardson, USA, Track
Bisexual sprinter Richardson broke the collegiate record in the 100 meter sprint in college. She qualified for the 2020 Olympics before testing positive for cannabis use, which caused her to later be disqualified. She will make her Olympic debut at the Paris games.
7. Chelsea Gray, USA, Basketball
When we get to the USA Women's Basketball team, we really start seeing queer athletes shine. Gray, who plays guard for the Las Vegas Aces, is a lesbian who will be playing in her second Olympics.
8. Brittney Griner, USA, Basketball
Griner, also a lesbian, is seeking her third gold medal after winning with Team USA in 2016 and 2020. She plays center for the Phoenix Mercury. She made headlines in 2022 after she notably detained in a Russian prison for months for having traveling with medically prescribed hash oil.
9. Jewell Loyd, USA, Basketball
Loyd is a lesbian guard for the Seattle Storm and is seeking her second gold medal after previously having won with the US at the 2020 Tokyo games.
10. Breanna Stewart, USA, Basketball
Lesbian forward Breanna Stewart is married to former WNBA player Marta Xargay and currently plays for the New York Liberty. She has two gold medals already.
11. Diana Taurasi, USA, Basketball
Taurasi is one of the legends of women's basketball and has been playing in the WNBA for two decades with the Phoenix Mercury. This will be the sixth Olympics for Taurasi, and her chance at winning a sixth gold medal.
12. Timo Cavelius, Germany, Judo
Cavelius will be the first out gay male judoka to compete in the Olympics when the 27-year-old makes his Paris Olympics debut.
13. Nikki Hiltz, USA, Track and Field
Hiltz is transgender and nonbinary, and qualified for their first Olympics just recently when they ran a record time of 3 minutes and 55.33 seconds to win the 1500-meter race at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. They dedicated their race to "all the LGBTQ folks.
14. Raven Saunders, USA, Shot Put
Saunders, who uses they/them pronouns, won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics and has qualified again for Paris after finishing second in the U.S. Olympic Trials. This will be their third Olympics.
15. Elke Vanhoof, Belgium, BMX
Vanhoof is a lesbian BMX rider who has appeared in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, and is set to return for Paris. Vanhoof recently injured her back and will no longer be competing.
16. Carl Hester, Great Britain, Dressage
Hester is a legend in the sport, having competed in six different Olympics, winning each a bronze, silver, and gold medal. He will be returning once again at the age of 57.
17. Lauren Doyle, USA, Women's Rugby Sevens
Doyle is competing in her third Olympic games, where she will serve as co-captain for the US Women's Rugby team.
18. Sarah Jones, Great Britain, Field Hockey
Jones is coming back for her second Olympics after winning bronze with Team Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics.
19. Sanna van Dijke, Netherlands, Judo
Van Dijke, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo games is returning, hoping for another trip to the podium. She will compete in the 70kg division.
20. Hannah Roberts, USA, BMX Freestyle
Roberts won won a silver medal at Tokyo and now is going for gold in her second Olympics in Paris.
21. Jolyn Beer, Germany, Shooting
Another LGBTQ+ athlete competing in her second Olympiad is Beer, who finished without a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
22. Nico Young, USA, 10,000 Meters
Young, who is just 21, qualified for his first ever Olympics recently by finishing third in his event at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. He is the first out U.S. gay male track and field athlete to make the team.
23. Alice Bellandi, Italy, Judo
Bellandi is entering her second Olympics, competing in Judo in the -78kg division.
24. Haleigh Washington, USA, Volleyball
Washington is headed to her second Olympics and hoping to repeat what she did in Tokyo, when she won gold with Team USA.
25. Kirsty Gilmour, Great Britain, Badminton
Gilmour is an out lesbian and is competing in her third Olympics. She previously appeared at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics but has yet to medal.
26. Michaela Walsh, Ireland, Boxing
Walsh, who comes from a boxing family, is entering her second Olympics. She competed in Tokyo in the featherweight division but did not medal.
27. Hergie Bacyadan, Philippines, Boxing
Bacyadan, who is a trans man but has not started hormone replacement therapy, will compete in the women's 75kg division at the Paris Olympics. It will be his first time at the games.
28. Cindy Ngamba, IOC Refugee Team, Boxing
Ngamba, who was born in Cameroon and resides in England, is making her Olympic debut in the middleweight division.
29. Nesthy Petecio, Philippines, Boxing
At the Tokyo games, Petecio made her Olympic debut and won the silver medal, becoming the first Filipino woman to earn an Olympic medal in the sport. Now, she's going for gold in what will be her second Olympics.
30. Kellie Harrington, Ireland, Boxing
Harrington is returning to her second Olympics, hoping for the same result she had in Tokyo. At those games, she won gold in the lightweight division, becoming just the third Irish woman to win gold in any Olympic sport.
31. Rayan Dutra, Brazil, Trampoline
Dutra, who is bisexual, is making his Olympics debut in Paris.
32. Amadine Bouchard, France, Judo
Buchard has only competed in one Olympics, but she already has two medals. In Tokyo, she won silver in the half-lightweight class and gold with France's mixed team. She came out as a lesbian in 2021 and is now hoping for individual gold.
33. Lauren Scruggs, USA, Fencing
Scruggs is competing in the foil category for Team USA in fencing at her first Olympics in Paris.
34. Nick Albiero, Brazil, Swimming
Another out athlete making their Olympics debut is swimmer Nick Albiero, who will compete in the men's 200-meter butterfly.
35. Jack Woolley, Ireland, Taekwondo
At the 2021 Tokyo games, Woolley finished off the podium, but he's hoping to win a medal in his second Olympics in Paris.
36. Kayla Miracle, USA, Wrestling
Miracle made history four years ago when she was the first out LGBTQ+ wrestler at the Olympics. Now, she's hoping to win a medal in Paris.
37. Ana Marcela Cunha, Brazil, Open Water Swimming
Cunha is a legend in open water swimming and already has a gold medal in the 10km swim from Tokyo. Now, she's entering her fourth Olympics hoping for another.
38. Tyler Wright, Australia, Surfing
Making her Olympics debut is Australian surfer and lesbian Tyler Wright.
39. Evy Leibfarth, USA, Canoe Slalom, Kayak Cross
At just 20 years old, Leibfarth is making her second Olympics appearance this year, hoping to win her first medal in one of her two sports.
40. Irma Testa, Italy, Boxing
Testa, a featherweight, is competing in her third Olympics. She previously won bronze in Tokyo, becoming the first Italian woman to win a medal in her sport.
41. Nadia Podoroska, Argentina, Tennis
Podoroska made her Olympics debut in 2020, and is back this year. In 2022, she came out as a lesbian and is dating fellow Argentine tennis player Guillermina Naya.
42. Anneli Maley, Australia 3x3 Basketball
Maley is an Australian WNBL player who helped her team win the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup and Olympic Qualifying Tournament to qualify for her first games. Her fiancé Marena Whittle is also a professional basketball player.
43. Marena Whittle, Australia, 3x3 Basketball
Whittle is engaged to Maley and will join her on Australia's 3x3 Basketball team looking for Gold.
44. Samantha Whitcomb, Australia, Basketball
Whitcomb is an American-Australian WNBA player for the Seattle Storm. She became an Australian citizen in 2018. She and her wife Kate have two children together.
45. Marissa Williamson Pohlman, Australia, Boxing
Williamson Pohlman is the first Aboriginal woman to qualify for the Australian Olympic boxing team and uses she/they pronouns. They are making their Olympics debut.
46. Natalya Diehm, Australia, Cycling
In 2020, Diehm became the first woman to represent Australia at the Olympics in the sport of freestyle BMX, and now, she's back for her second Olympics.
47. Sharni Smale (Williams), Australia, Rugby
Smale is Australia's longest-serving women's rugby sevens player and won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio games. She announced that she will be retiring from international competetion after the Paris Olympics, her third games.
48. Cortnee Vine, Australia, Soccer
Vine, who plays professional soccer for the North Carolina Courage of the NWSL, is making her Olympics debut.
49. Michelle Heyman, Australia, Soccer
Heyman will be competing in her second Olympics after debuting for Australia at the 2016 games.
50. Caitlin Foord, Australia, Soccer
Foord is one of nine out athletes on Australia's women's soccer team at the Paris games. She currently plays for Arsenal in the FA Women's Super League. This will be her third Olympics.
51. Katrina Gorry, Australia, Soccer
Gorry plays for West Ham United in the Women's Super League, and will be playing in her second Olympics.
52. Tameka Yallop, Australia, Soccer
Yallop is a professional soccer player in Australia and is competing in her third Olympics.
53. Emily van Egmond, Australia, Soccer
Van Egmond plays professional soccer for the San Diego Wave of the NWSL. This is her third Olympics.
54. Ellie Carpenter, Australia, Soccer
Carpenter is a defender who plays professionally in France for Lyon. In 2016, at the Rio Olympics, at just 16-years-old, Carpenter was named to Australia's Olympic squad, making her the youngest member of her country's Olympic team. Now, she's back for her 3rd games.
55. Teagan Micah, Australia, Soccer
Micah is a goalkeeper who plays for both Liverpool in the Women's Super League, and the Australian National team. She made her Olympics debut in 2020.
56. Mackenzie Arnold, Australia, Soccer
Arnold is the current goalkeeper for the Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL. This will be her third Olympics.
57. Julie Allemand, Belgium, Basketball
Allemand plays in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks and is making her Olympics debut this year.
58. Domien Michiels, Belgium, Equestrian
Michiels previously competed for Belgium at the Tokyo Olympic games, making these his second.
59. Abi Raye, Belgium, Field Hockey
Ray is a British-born Belgian player who has represented both Canada and Belgium internationally. This is her first Olympics.
60. Emma Puvrez, Belgium, Field Hockey
Puvrez is one of three out athletes on Belgium's field hockey team. This is her first Olympics.
61. Charlotte Englebert, Belgium, Field Hockey
Belgium's third out field hockey player is Charlotte Englebert, also making her Olympics debut.
62. Ana Patricia Ramos, Brazil, Beach Volleyball
Ramos is competing in her second Olympics in beach volleyball.
63. Beatriz Ferreira, Brazil, Boxing
Ferreira won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo games, and is now back competing in the lightweight event.
64. Arthur Nory, Brazil, Gymnastics
Nory is getting ready for his third straight Olympics, but this will be his first time competing since he announced that he has a boyfriend in 2021.
Bruna de Paula, Brazil, Handball
Also making her Olympics debut is Arenhart's teammate Bruna de Paula.
67. Rafaela Silva, Brazil, Judo
Silva won Brazil's first gold medal at the Rio Olymipcs in 2016 in the -57 kg weight division and came out the same year.
Marina Fioravanti, Brazil, Rugby
Fioravanti is a rugby player competing in her second Olympics in a row.
69. Marta, Brazil, Soccer
Marta is simply put, one of the greatest soccer players of all time. In 2021, she became the first person ever to score in five consecutive Olympic Games. She's trying to extend her record to six consecutive games this year. She plays professionally for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL.
70. Adriana, Brazil, Soccer
Marta's Orlando Pride teammate Adriana is also heading to Paris for her first Olympics.
71. Tarciane, Brazil, Soccer
Tarciane is a 21-year-old defender for the Houston Dash of the NWSL making her Olympics debut for Brazil.
72. Tamires, Brazil, Soccer
Tamires has been on the Brazil National Team since 2014 and went to the Olympics with them in 2016 and 2020.
73. Luciana, Brazil, Soccer
Luciana is a goalkeeper for Brazil who played in the 2015 FIFA World Cup but has yet to play in the Olympics.
74. Lorena, Brazil, Soccer
Lorena is another goalkeeper for the Brazilian national team. She joined the national team in 2021 and is appearing in her first Olympics.
75. Tainá, Brazil, Soccer
Taina is also making her Olympics debut, having joined the Brazilian national team in 2024.
76. Lauren, Brazil, 2024
Lauren plays professional soccer for the NWSL's Kansas City Current and joined the Braziliannational team for the Women's World Cup in 2023. This is her first Olympics.
77. Ana Carolina Azevedo, Brazil, Track and Field
Azevedo is a nine-time national champion who runs the 100m and 200m races. This is her first Olympics.
78. Izabela da Silva, Brazil, Discus
Da Silva competed in the Tokyo Olympics in discus throw and is back looking for her first medal.
79. Gabi Guimarães, Brazil, Volleyball
Guimarães won the silver medal with Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics and is looking for another medal in Paris.
Ana Carolina Da Silva, Brazil, Volleyball
Da Silva won silver alongside Guimarães in Tokyo and is back again.
81. Rosamaria Montibeller, Brazil, Volleyball
Montibeller was another member of Brazil's silver medal-winning team in 2020 who is coming back this year.
Lauriane Genest, Canada, Cycling
Genest won the bronze medal in the keirin race at the Tokyo Olympics.
83. Alena Sharp, Canada, Golf
Sharp made her Olympics debut for Canada in 2016 and competed again in 2020. This will be her third games.
84. Liv Apps, Canada, Rugby
Apps is Team Canada's captain going into the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was an alternate on the 2020 Olympic team.
85. Qiunn, Canada, Soccer
Quinn is one of few nonbinary athletes who will compete in Paris. In 2020, they made history as the first out trans and nonbinary athlete to compete in the Olympics, winning a gold medal with the Canadian team. The previously won bronze in 2016.
86. Kailen Sheridan, Canada, Soccer
Sheridan is a goalkeeper who plays for the San Diego Wave of the NWSL. She was an alternate on the team in 2016 and played for the team in 2020 when they won gold.
87. Kadeisha Buchanan, Canada, Soccer
Buchanan plays for Chelsea in the Women's Super League and is a three-time Canadian Player of the Year. She has a bronze medal from 2016 and gold medal from 2020.
88. Leicy Santos, Colombia, Soccer
Santos, who plays for the NWSL's Washington Spirit, is making her Olympics debut this year.
89. Daniela Montoya, Colombia, Soccer
Montoya plays professionally for Atlético Nacional and previously represented Colombia at the 2012 Olympics. These are her second games.
90. Linda Caicedo, Colombia, Soccer
Caicedo was diagnosed with cancer at age 15, and now, at 19, she's appearing in her first Olympics. She plays professionally for Real Madrid in Liga F.
91. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, Denmark, Equestrian
Laudrup-Dufour is the lone out athlete for Team Denmark and previously appeared at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic games.
92. Senni Salminen, Finland, Track and Field
Salminen is a triple jumper who competed in the Tokyo Games and is back this year.
93. Mathilde Petriaux, France, Field Hockey
Petriaux is participating in her first Olympics for France's field hockey team, playing goalkeeper.
94. Alice Lesgourgues, France, Field Hockey
Lesgourgues is another French field hockey player making her Olympic debut.
95. Inès Lardeur, France, Field Hockey
Lardeur is the third out player on France's field hockey team.
96. Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, France, Soccer
Peyraud-Magnin is a goalkeeper who plays professionally for Juventus and is making her Olympic debut.
97. Mélanie Henique, France, Swimming
Henique is a swimmer with three World Championship medals and five Swimming World Cup medals who is making her Olympics debut this year in Paris.
98. Lara Vadlau, Austria, Sailing
Vadlau is a sailer making her Olympics debut. She's in a relationship with German soccer player and fellow Olympian Lea Schüller.
Svenja Brunckhorst, Germany, 3x3 Basketball
Brunckhosrt is a point guard for the German Women's 3x3 team and is competing in her first Olympics.
100. Alexis Peterson, Germany, Basketball
Peterson is and American-German guard who was drafted into the WNBA in 2017 by the Seattle Storm and has also played overseas. This is her first Olympics.
101. Emily Bessoir, Germany, Basketball
Bessoir was born in Germany and played college basektball at UCLA. She left the UCLA team to focus on making her first Olympic roster, which she did.
102. Frederic Wandrews, Germany, Dressage
Wandres is a German rider who was on the Olympics longlist for 2020, but is making his official debut at these 2024 games.
103. Nathalie Kubaslki, Germany, Field Hockey
Kubalksi is a 30-year-old goalkeeper for the German team. This is her first Olympics.
104. Tabea Schendekehl, Germany, Rowing
Schendekehl won bronze with the German women's quad sculls rowing team, becoming one of the first out pansexual athletes to medal at the Olympics.
105. Lea Schüller, Germany, Soccer
Schüller, who plays professionally for Bayern Munich and is on the German national team. She is in a relationship with fellow Olympian Lara Vadlau.
106. Sara Doorsoun, Germany, Soccer
Doorsoun plays professionally for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and has been with the National team since 2016, but is making her Olympic debut this year.
107. Ann-Katrin Berger, Germany, Soccer
Berger is a goalkeeper who has played professionally in Europe and now plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL. This is her first Olympics.
108. Felicitas Rauch, Germany, Soccer
Rach plays for the North Carolina Courage of the NWSL and was announced as an alternate for the German team at this year's games.
109. Anastasia Blayvas, Germany, Wrestling
Blayvas is a 23-year-old wrestler in the 55kg division who is making her Olympics debut.
110. Fiona Crackles, Great Britain, Field Hockey
Crackles is a member of the Great Britain Field Hockey team, and previously won a bronze medal in Tokyo.
111. Miriam Pritchard, Great Britain, Field Hockey
Pritchard is the goalkeeper for Britain's hockey team. This is her first Olympics.
113. Jasmine Joyce, Great Britain, Rugby
Joyce is a member of the British Rugby 7s team and competed in both the Rio and Tokyo games.
114. Meg Jones, Great Britain, Rugby
Jones and her wife Celia Quansah were both on the British 7's team in Tokyo, and Jones is back this year in Paris.
116. Raz Hershko, Israel, Judo
Hershko previously won a bronze medal as a part of Israel's mixed team in Tokyo, and this year, won a solo silver in the judo +78k division.
115. Anat Lelior, Israel, Surfing
The Paris Olympics are Lelior's second, after she debuted at the Tokyo games.
118. Paola Egonu, Italy, Volleyball
Egonu is a three time Olympian, having competed at Rio, Tokyo, and this year in Paris.
119. Tayra Melendez, Puerto Rico, Basketball
Melendez played college ball at Rhode Island, and is competing in her first Olympics.
120. Isalys Quinones, Puerto Rico, Basketball
Quinones played college basketball at Dartmouth, and has competed in two Olympics.
121. Sofia Roma, Puerto Rico, Basketball
Roma is participating in her first Olympics.
122. Dirkie Chamberlain, South Africa, Field Hockey
Chamberlain made her Olympics debut back in the London 2012 games, and is now back for her second games.
123. Kemisetso Baloyi, South Africa, Rugby
Kemisetso makes her Olympic debut with the South Africa Rugby 7s team.
125. Marianne Vos, Netherlands, Cycling
Vos is one of the best cyclists in modern history, with a gold medal in 2012 and a silver medal this year.
126. Edward Gal, Netherlands, Dressage
Gal is a controversial horse trainer who won bronze in London.
127. Hans Peter Minderhoud, Netherlands, Equestrian
Minderhoud is in a relationship with his teammate Gal, and previsouly won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
128. Marleen Jochems, Netherlands, Field Hockey
Jochems was a part of the gold-medal winning women's hockey team for the Netherlands at these, her first Olympics.
129. Anna Veenendaal, Netherlands, Field Hockey
Veenendaal is the goalkeeper for the gold medal Netherlands field hockey team.
130. Guusje Seenhuis, Netherlands, Judo
This is Steenhuis' second Olympics after the 2021 Tokyo games.
131. Demi Schuurs, Netherlands, Tennis
Schuurs plays Tennis Doubles and is in her first Olympics.
134. Clarke Johnstone, New Zealand, Equestrian
Johnstone qualified for his second Olympics this year after losing his partner Codey Jervis to a tragedy at the end of 2023.
135. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, New Zealand, Rugby
Woodman Wickliffe led her team to its second gold medal in a row in what she says was her final international match.
136. Meikayla Moore, New Zealand, Soccer
Moore, who plays professionally in Great Britain, is in her second Olympics with the New Zealand soccer team.
137. Annalie Longo, New Zealand, Soccer
Longo is playing in her fourth Olympics this year.
138. Michaela Foster, New Zealand, Soccer
This is Foster's first Olympics.
139. Nathalie Hagman, Sweden, Handball
Hagman is in her third Olympics, having previously competed in Tokyo and Rio.
141. Michelle-Lee Ahye, Trinidad and Tobago, Trak and Field
The 32-year-old Ahye is competing in her fourth Olympics, alongside her wife, Crystal Emmanuel-Ahye of Canada.
142. Ebrar Karakurt, Turkiye, Volleyball
Karakurt is part of Turkiye's volleyball team and faces discrimation in her home country for her sexuality.
