Athletes Repping More Than Medals
Josh Cavallo Source: Getty Images

May 2

Athletes Repping More Than Medals

READ TIME: 3 MIN.

The world of sport, particularly at the highest level, has not always been a safe place for LGBTQ+ athletes to embrace their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, thanks to the support of some big-name athletes over the years, that has been slowly changing.

At last year's Paris Olympics, a record 193 LGBTQ+ athletes competed at the Games. Other sports are also seeing a similar increase.

Sha'Carri Richardson Breaking Records on The Track

In 2021, Sha'Carri Richardson publicly announced that she had a girlfriend and was bisexual. The 100m sprinter often uses her social media platforms to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, while she also frequently flaunts affiliated symbols and logos on her clothing in big races.

Richardson is one of the fastest athletes on the planet, so it is a big deal to have her stoically leading the LGBTQ+ cause. The American won gold at the World Athletics Championship back in 2023 in Budapest, in both the 100m race and the 4 x 100m relay. Last year was also huge for her at the Olympic Games, as she won silver in the 100m World Athletics race and gold in the 4 x 100m relay.

The Olympic gold medalist will be in action at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo this summer. The 25-year-old will have her eyes on the world record, which is currently held by Florence Griffith Joyner with a time of 10.49. That record was set in Indianapolis in July 1988.

Brittney Griner Bidding for More WNBA Glory

As a three-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA All-Star, Brittney Griner is one of the most successful female basketball players in history. Her career in the WNBA began in 2013 when drafted as the first overall pick. She was back with the Phoenix Mercury in 2024 for a second spell, before switching to the Atlanta Dream. The move to Atlanta gives her a good chance of winning the championship this season. Her franchise is fifth best in the WNBA outright betting at +6000. Some punters are applying for a BetMGM promo code and sign-up offers with sportsbooks to take advantage of those odds, as it gives them money back if the Dream are not successful.

Griner came out as a lesbian in February 2013. She appeared on the front cover of ESPN Magazine later that year in an edition named "The Taboo Issue". Not long after, she became the first openly gay athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Nike.

Josh Cavallo Took Brave Decision in Soccer

Australian soccer player Josh Cavallo came out as gay in 2021. At the time, he was the only openly-gay male footballer in a top-flight soccer league anywhere in the world.

Cavallo received praise and support from some of the leading soccer players in the sport for his decision. He has since revealed it was an important step in his life and career.

The Australian has ambitions of playing for his country one day, so he will be hoping to impress Australia's head coach Tony Popovic ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. Should he play in that tournament, it will be a huge boost to the LGBTQ+ community.

With the above three athletes and many more now openly advocating and supporting the LGBTQ+ community, we will hopefully see more widespread representation of LGBTQ+ people both within the sports industry and beyond, in the future.

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