It’s time for the Tokyo Olympics! As a fan and athlete, I will watch any event at any time—but I’ll be keeping a special eye on the queer parent athletes (and athletes with queer parents). Balancing parenting and high-level training, not to mention possible queerphobias—it’s a lot to handle, and they deserve our respect and admiration.
All athletes this year, too, will likely suffer from the fact that families (except for nursing children) will not be allowed to travel to the Games with them because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s to lots of video calls to stay connected (though it’s never quite the same as being there)!
Queer Parent Olympians
- Kelly Brazier, Rugby, New Zealand
- Tom Daley, Diving, Great Britain
- Lina Hurtig, Soccer/football, Sweden
- Hedvig Lindahl, Soccer/football, Sweden
- Asya Miller, Goalball (Paralympics), USA
- Leilani Mitchell, Basketball, Australia
- SofÃa Mulanovich, Surfing, Peru
- Moran Samuel, Rowing (Paralympics), Israel
- Sherida Spitse, Soccer/football, Netherlands
- Sam Stosur, Tennis, Australia
- Diana Taurasi, Basketball, USA
- Stefanie van der Gragt, Soccer/football, Netherlands
- Portia Woodman, Rugby, New Zealand
Additionally, Cheryl Reeve is an assistant coach with Team USA Basketball (and wrote a piece for Sports Illustrated earlier this year in support of transgender women’s participation in women’s sports).
Olympians with Queer Parents
- Jordan Windle, Diving, USA
Did I miss anyone among the 185 out athletes in the Tokyo Games (thanks, Outsports!)? That’s entirely likely; not all sports coverage mentions a player’s status in this regard. Please let me know!