2026 Winter Olympics Sets Record With 45 Out LGBTQ+ Athletes

Forty-five openly LGBTQ+ athletes will compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, shattering previous records and marking a historic moment for visibility in winter sports.

According to Outsports, the number represents a major leap forward for inclusion at the Winter Games. Canada and the United States lead with eight openly queer athletes each, while Finland follows with six.

Women dominate the representation with 35 female athletes, nine men, and one trans athlete competing. Ice hockey leads all sports with 23 out athletes, more than half the total count.

American figure skater Amber Glenn will make history as the first openly queer woman to compete in Olympic figure skating. The 26-year-old three-time US champion came out in 2019 and says embracing her identity freed her from living up to others' expectations.

Glenn sees her Olympic debut as more than personal achievement. She's framing it as a chance to support LGBTQ+ people and marginalized communities during challenging times.

Sweden's Elis Lundholm will break new ground as the first trans athlete at the Winter Games. The freestyle mogul skier, a trans man competing in the women's category, has faced both support and hostility but remains focused on his performance.

Team USA power couple Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe will both compete again after meeting at the Beijing 2022 Games. Knight, a multiple Olympic medalist and longtime leader of the US women's ice hockey team, and Bowe, an Olympic speed skater, represent the visibility of same-sex relationships in elite sports.

Gus Kenworthy, the silver medalist freestyle skier from Sochi 2014, returns as one of the most recognizable openly gay Winter Olympians. He's long championed LGBTQ+ visibility both on and off the snow.

The Ripple Effect

These 45 athletes aren't just competing for medals. They're showing young LGBTQ+ people worldwide that they can pursue their dreams without hiding who they are.

Their courage creates space for the next generation of athletes to compete authentically. Every out athlete at the Games sends a powerful message that excellence and identity go hand in hand.

The representation matters especially in winter sports, which have historically lagged behind summer sports in LGBTQ+ visibility. This record number proves that change is accelerating.

As the Games approach, these athletes promise to deliver not just world-class performances but a powerful celebration of living truthfully.