Jul 29
10 Queer Athletes We Have an Eye on During the Paris Games
Roger Porter READ TIME: 4 MIN.
Lady Gaga and Celine Dion's performances at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony aren't the only gay happenings at this year's games. In fact, nearly 200 out LGBTQ+ athletes are competing across a wide array of sports.
Watch for these 10 queer athletes who are capturing our hearts – and eyeballs – as they compete to take home the gold.
Arthur Nory
Since competing in Tokyo in 2021 and coming out in 2022, Nory has found a boyfriend to match his style, charisma and radiant smile. The Sao Paulo native snagged a Bronze medal on his home turf in Rio in 2016 but when he went home empty-handed in Tokyo in 2021, he knew he had to return to Paris stronger and more motivated than ever.
Tom Daley
Is there anyone more swoon-worthy than Tom Daley?
After years of practice and four Olympic Games, the British diver nailed the gold with his diving partner in Tokyo, cementing his status as perhaps the sexiest world champion in a speedo. But it's not just his supreme diving skills that has us head-over-heels for this Olympic phenom. Daley shows us serious relationship goals – sharing fatherhood with screenwriting hubby Dustin Lance Black.
In between knitting cozy sweaters for his son and crushing diving records, Daley takes to Paris proud and confident with what he has accomplished. He even finds time for ultra cute queer moments – like this reenactment with his teammate of the famous scene from "Titanic."
Nikki Hiltz
Nonbinary and transgender runner Nikki Hiltz is in the running to be the face of Team USA. Despite Paris drenched in rain during Friday's opening ceremony, Hiltz, competing in the women's 1500m race, was all beaming smiles.
It was the perfect moment for Hiltz, exemplifying their impossible charm and setting them up to win our hearts around the world. "Here's my official application to be @TeamUSA's nonbinary flag bearer," Hiltz wrote on Instagram.
If they are chosen to carry the flag at the Closing Ceremony, it would shine a spotlight on a prominent nonbinary and trans athlete and bolster representation and community support across the globe.
