A record number of LGBTQ+ Olympians are set to compete at the Winter Olympics.
Last summer, almost two-hundred out LGBTQ athletes competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games marking a watershed moment for the community.
For context: twenty-three competed at London 2012 and fifty-six at Rio 2016; a significant increase.
And this winter will see the Beijing 2022 Games follow suit.
At least thirty-six competitors in China are openly LGBTQ; over double the number of those who competed in 2018 according to Outsports.
Czech Republic snowboarder Sarka Pancochova will enjoy her second Games since coming out, and is continuing to use her status to fight for marriage equality in her home country.
“It’s always an honor to be able to represent my country at the Olympics, and also represent the LGBTQ community and push for gay marriage in Czech Republic,” she told Outsports. “It has been on my mind constantly!”
The full list of history-making athletes can be found here.
The Winter Olympics are currently underway, and will run through until February 20.
You can find more celebrity news on our website and iOS & Android application.