TOKYO 2020's LGBTQIA-thletes
Talk'OH! Tuesday
Written by Glenn Javier
According to Outsports, there were at least 185 publicly out gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and nonbinary athletes in the recently concluded Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. This is an exponential increase compared to the 2016 Rio Olympics. One notable queer participant was Tom Daley who was all over the news after his Gold Medal win for the men's synchronized 10-metre platform event.
Tom already has a lot of exposure even before his recent triumph. This week we are here to familiarize ourselves with three out and proud athletes from the different sporting events held during Tokyo 2020.
LGBTQ Athletes in Tokyo 2020 [Left to Right]: Anton Down-Jenkins, Kelley O'Hara, Jack Woolley
Jack Woolley
Born: September 1998 (age 22)
Birthplace: Ireland
Sport: Taekwondo
FACTS
Jack is an Irish Taekwondo athlete.
He has made history as the first Irish athlete to qualify for the Olympics.
Jack was qualified in the men's 58 kg category but was defeated by Argentinian Lucas Guzmán
He is also the first out (and proud?) LGBTQ Irish Olympic athlete after he came out as a bisexual man in a documentary.
Jack discussed in Extra (an Irish website) why he wished he had not publicized his coming-out story. It's not because he was suddenly ashamed of being part of the queer community but because the "label" has clouded his other historical achievement.
"I want to be the first Irish Olympian in my sport, the lad from Tallaght who went to the Olympics, not Jack the gay athlete"
He wants to be known as the first from Tallaght who created history in his sport by participating in the Olympics
BREAKING NEWS: Earlier this weekend, Jack was assaulted while out in Dublin. He posted a photo of his face and clothes drenched in blood following the incident. It was a random attack where he was punched in the face by one person who belonged to a group of 8-12 men and women. Jack is now recovering from facial reconstructive surgery and is expected to be discharged later this week as per New York Post's latest article.
Kelley O'Hara
Born: August 1988 (age 33)
Birthplace: Georgia, United States
Sport: Soccer
Team: Washington Spirit
Position: Wingback
FACTS
Kelley is an American soccer player, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, and Olympic gold medalist.
She currently plays as a defender for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women's national soccer team.
Kelley was the 2009 recipient of the Hermann Trophy while playing for the Stanford Cardinal women's soccer team.
When not on the field, she is hosting the Just Women's sports podcast.
Kelley is an out and proud lesbian who is known for kissing her partner after their victory in the tournament during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final.
Anton Down-Jenkins
Born: September 1999 (age 21)
Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand
Sport: Diving, Men's 3m Springboard
FACTS
Anton is a Kiwi Olympic diver who competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
He secured his Olympic quota spot at the Diving World Cup Olympic Qualification Event held in Japan in May 2021 and made some history by becoming the first diver from New Zealand to qualify for the Olympics since 1984.
Anton placed 10th at the said event, New Zealand's best-ever finish at a Diving World Cup.
He is now based in North Carolina and dives for UNC
He made the Games despite testing positive for Covid-19, which, According to Outsports, set back his training for 2 1⁄2 months.
“I never felt the need to ‘come out. I’ve never felt the need to explicitly tell people ‘I’m gay.’ I’m very fortunate because I know that’s not the reality for a lot of people,”
Anton told the New Zealand website Stuff.
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