With the Paris Olympics underway, here are five of the most popular athletes taking centrestage. Photos Courtesy: AFP
Tom Daley
Being one of the most popular athletes, English diver Tom Daley is popularly known for knitting while he is waiting for his turn to perform and watching his teammates perform. Daley came out to the world on his YouTube channel in 2013, and has been in a relationship with his partner American film screenwriter, director and producer Dustin Lance Black. While they got engaged in October 2015, the couple got married in May 2017. Together, they have two sons born out of surrogacy in 2018 and 2023. At the Paris Olympics, the 30-year-old has won the silver medal in the 10m platform synchronised event with Noah Williams.
Sha'Carri Richardson
Another poster athlete of the Paris Olympics, US athlete Sha'Carri Richardson is not only among the fastest in the world, but is also one of the most stylish at the Olympics with her colourful hair and long painted nails along with her aura. Richardson came out to the world in 2021 announcing that she has a girlfriend and even gave a big shoutout to the LGBTQIA community after her win in June 2021. At the Paris Olympics, the athlete who identifies as bisexual, has made her debut and has qualified for the 100m semi-finals.
Quinn
If you follow women's football, then it is hard to miss Canadian soccer player Quinn, who was previously known as Rebecca Quinn, a midfielder playing at her best. The footballer came out in 2020 as non-binary and transgender, and changed their name to Quinn. In 2023, the 28-year-old became the first openly non-binary and transgender footballer to compete in the FIFA World Cup. Quinn was allowed to play in the women's team based on the sex assigned at birth, and thus becoming the first footballer not only to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but also win it with her team. This time around, they are in the quarterfinals and will be playing against Germany, amid the drone scandal.
Nikki Hiltz
American middle-distance runner Nikki Hiltz joins her compatriot Richardson, who are supposedly among 29 US athletes from the community at the Paris Olympics 2024. While she organised a Virtual Pride 5k races and donated proceeds to the Trevor Project, a non-profit organisation working towards suicide provention among LGBTQ youths. Since the same year, the 29-year-old transgender and non-binary runner has been in a relationship with Emma Gee, another US athlete. At the Paris Olympics, she is set to compete in the 1500m race in the coming days.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
New Zealand rugby union player Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has been going viral on the Internet for her expressions as she goes through the field and pushes other members of competing teams. The 33-year-old has been in a relationship with fellow rugby teammate Renee Wickliffe since 2013 before they got married in 2022 - and they have now adopted the surname Woodman-Wickliffe. After getting selected for the Rugby Sevens team for the Paris Olympics, they won the gold medal after defeating Canada 19-12 in the final.
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