Olympics Feature Proud Gay Athletes, Couples
Wednesday 13th August 2008
As the world turns its eyes to China, several athletes have been given the chance to make an impact not just for their countries but for the LGBT community around the world.
The Norwegian Women's Handball team celebrates after winning the European championships.
We reported last month on gay Olympic diver David Mitcham of Australia, who will compete in the three metre springboard competition and the 10 metre platform dive. He came out in a Sydney morning newspaper in May.
Mitcham is far from the only homosexual man or woman competing in the Olympics. The Olympic Village will be a temporary home for a rather large number of lesbian competitors.
Women's football seems to have a higher proportion of sexual minorities than most other sports.
Victoria Svensson of the Swedish football team, Linda Bresonik of the German football team and forward Natasha Kai of the USA football team are all out lesbians.
Kai is perhaps the most famous and accomplished of the trio. Born in Hawaii, she received several accolades while playing in university and joined the women's international team in 2006 straight out of college.
Imke Duplitze, Olympic Fencing silver medalist, and German cyclist Judith Arndt are also out lesbians. Arndt has won two medals, but is probably best known for the tantrum she threw at the 2004 games when her partner was cut from the team.
Partners competing at the games is not entirely unusual. This year the games feature a Norwegian lesbian couple in Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg of Norway's handball team. The two are in a long-term relationship.
Both women are accomplished handballers, with Norway having won the European handball championships twice since 2004 and both scoring major successes in club handball.
Other lesbian athletes include Lauren Lappin and Vicky Galindo of the U.S.A Women's Softball team, Linda Bresonik of the German football team,Victoria Svensson of the Swedish football team, and Rennae Stubbs, of the Australian tennis team.
Related Stories:
Australian Olympic Athlete Announces He's Gay
Do you want to join Pinke's team of paid writers? We're looking for writers all over the world to write about the gay issues that matter all over the globe. We're particularly looking for travel writers and writers in Asia/Africa/the Middle East, but we'll consider anyone with great writing skills and an interest in the subject. Email Pinke editor Robert Knox with a writing sample for more information.
The Norwegian Women's Handball team celebrates after winning the European championships.
We reported last month on gay Olympic diver David Mitcham of Australia, who will compete in the three metre springboard competition and the 10 metre platform dive. He came out in a Sydney morning newspaper in May.
Mitcham is far from the only homosexual man or woman competing in the Olympics. The Olympic Village will be a temporary home for a rather large number of lesbian competitors.
Women's football seems to have a higher proportion of sexual minorities than most other sports.
Victoria Svensson of the Swedish football team, Linda Bresonik of the German football team and forward Natasha Kai of the USA football team are all out lesbians.
Kai is perhaps the most famous and accomplished of the trio. Born in Hawaii, she received several accolades while playing in university and joined the women's international team in 2006 straight out of college.
Imke Duplitze, Olympic Fencing silver medalist, and German cyclist Judith Arndt are also out lesbians. Arndt has won two medals, but is probably best known for the tantrum she threw at the 2004 games when her partner was cut from the team.
Partners competing at the games is not entirely unusual. This year the games feature a Norwegian lesbian couple in Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg of Norway's handball team. The two are in a long-term relationship.
Both women are accomplished handballers, with Norway having won the European handball championships twice since 2004 and both scoring major successes in club handball.
Other lesbian athletes include Lauren Lappin and Vicky Galindo of the U.S.A Women's Softball team, Linda Bresonik of the German football team,Victoria Svensson of the Swedish football team, and Rennae Stubbs, of the Australian tennis team.
Related Stories:
Australian Olympic Athlete Announces He's Gay
Do you want to join Pinke's team of paid writers? We're looking for writers all over the world to write about the gay issues that matter all over the globe. We're particularly looking for travel writers and writers in Asia/Africa/the Middle East, but we'll consider anyone with great writing skills and an interest in the subject. Email Pinke editor Robert Knox with a writing sample for more information.
Friday, 15 August 2008 01:35
I believe it is Matthew Mitcham! Jacob S
