Dr. Rory Magrath
Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences and Nursing at Solent University. His research focuses on sexualities and masculinities, specifically on elite-level sport – and football, in particular. His most recent book is LGBT Football Fans: Authenticity, Belonging and Visibility.
Email: RoryMagrathPhD@gmail.com
Twitter: @RoryMagrath
For at least the fifth consecutive Olympic Games, Paris 2024 saw a record number of ‘out’ LGBTQ+ athletes. At the time of writing, a few days after the closing ceremony, this figure stood at 195 (although this is expected to rise), most of whom – interestingly – were women, at a rough ratio of 9 to 1. For context, this is a marginal increase from Tokyo 2021 (186), and a huge increase on other recent Games: almost four times as many as Rio 2016 (53), more than eight times as London 2012 (23), and thirteen times as Beijing 2008 (15). Just like in Tokyo 2021, if such a team existed, Team LGBTQ+ would have finished in 7th place in the medals table – with a total of 42 medals (including 15 golds). LGBTQ+ sports website Outsports, which compiles these lists, describes the increase as reflective of the “increasing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ athletes.”
This is a position shared by the overwhelming majority of notable academic literature in recent years—particularly (but by no means exclusively) in contact team sports. Word restrictions unfortunately prevent a deep dive into all of this research, which has continued apace since the last Games. While there remain perceptions that sport is an unwelcoming space for LGBTQ+ athletes, an article published in Sociological Research Online a week after the Paris Games commenced – boasting a sample of almost 1000 ‘out’ LGBTQ+ athletes in North America – reported “widespread and deep inclusion.” Specifically, more than 90% said that their teammates’ responses to their coming out was “neutral” to “perfect”: fewer than 5% described teammates’ responses as “bad” or worse (including only three overall who experienced the “worst-case scenario”).
Many will continue to trivialize the significance of LGBTQ+ athletes’ sexual or gender identity – that being ‘out’ is immaterial to their sporting performance. Such a simplistic stance is shortsighted, however; many LGBTQ+ athletes, including soccer player Thomas Beattie, have spoken of the liberating impact of coming out—a disposition corroborated by academic research. Competing as their authentic selves allows them to “be at the top of their game,” according to British Olympic champion, Dame Kelly Holmes – who also spoke of the challenges of being closeted when she competed in previous Games. Team LGBTQ+’s success – 7th place overall, remember – is perhaps further testament to this argument. Others, such as Irish taekwondo athlete Jack Woolley, also said just before the 2024 Games began that he had “noticed the benefits of being open” and that he hoped it would “inspire others.”
While the record number of ‘out’ athletes is hugely significant – and certainly shouldn’t be downplayed – LGBTQ+ issues in Paris were perhaps dominated by the ‘gender row’ surrounding female athletes Lin Yu-ting and (particularly) Imane Khelif. Both athletes had been disqualified from the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships after failing unspecified gender tests, but were cleared to participate in Paris. However, Khelif, who went on to become Algeria’s first-ever gold medallist in women’s boxing, became the subject of misinformation about her gender, particularly on social media, from a variety of public figures and former athletes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended both athletes’ inclusion, and shortly after the Games ended, Khelif filed a legal complaint against X, formerly known as Twitter, for the “immoral” online abuse that she received during the Games.
This is the latest episode of a very noisy – and still ongoing – debate about ‘gender identity and fairness’ and ‘unfair advantage’ surrounding participation in women’s sports. It is also indicative – as Monica Nelson, Hollie Thorpe, and Shannon Scovel wrote in the wake of Tokyo 2021 – of “how highly contested challenges to the gender binary in elite sport continue to be.” From the ferocity of what we have witnessed in Paris, it also appears that these debates are set to continue for some time to come. These events also serve as an important reminder that despite the recent improvements for LGBTQ+ athletes – such as the record number of ‘out’ athletes in Paris – we must be quick to recognize that progress is achieved at different speeds. Indeed, there remain several challenges that must still be overcome until full LGBTQ+ equality is achieved. And as the Olympics is – without doubt – the most international sporting mega-event on the planet, it seems pertinent to remember that the ‘global divide’ on LGBTQ+ rights still exists. Harsh anti-gay and/or anti-trans laws exist in numerous countries across the world, and this will no doubt keep many other athletes firmly in the closet. What LA 2028 holds – and what it will mean for the LGBTQ+ athlete – will make for compelling viewing.
