To celebrate, here are a few of the fantastic folks we’re rooting for 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
BY CAITLIN CHATTERTON, IMAGES OF LAUREN ROWLES MBE, EDENIA GARCIA AND ROBYN LAMBIRD VIA INSTAGRAM
At least 32 openly LGBTQ+ Paralympians are competing at Tokyo this year, more than twice the number in Rio. Such a huge increase in representation is incredible to see, so here are some faces to look out for!
Crystal Lane-Wright: Cycling, GB
This is Crystal’s third Paralympics, after taking home a bronze and silver medal in 2016.
Asya Miller: Goalball, USA
Asya has already represented the USA at five Paralympics, winning four medals. Her wife Jen plays Goalball too!
Lauren Rowles MBE: Rowing, GB
After bringing home a gold medal from Rio in 2016, Lauren was named in this year’s Pride Power List.
Edênia Garcia: Swimming, Brazil
The three-time Paralympic medalist has said that being open about her sexuality “reinforced to me the power of representation”.
Robyn Lambird: 100m, Australia
When they aren’t training for the Paralympics, Robyn models for brands including Tommy Hilfiger!
Hailey Danz: Triathlon, USA
Hailey brought home a silver medal from Rio in 2016.
Lucy Shuker: Wheelchair Tennis, GB
Lucy is currently the highest ranked woman in this sport in Britain! This is her fourth Paralympics, having already won two medals.
Almost 40% of the openly LGBTQ+ athletes are from women’s basketball, so if you’re looking for a new sport to get invested in this could be the one!
Babsi Gross: Wheelchair Basketball, Germany
Babsi won a silver medal at the Rio games in 2016.
Bo Kramer: Wheelchair Basketball, Netherlands
Bo was one of the Netherlands’ youngest players in 2016, where they won a bronze medal.
Robyn Love: Wheelchair Basketball, GB
This is the second Paralympics for Robyn, who first started out at Edinburgh Napier University.
Laurie Williams: Wheelchair Basketball, GB
This is Laurie’s third Paralympic Games, having achieved a historic fourth place in Rio in 2016.
Cindy Oullet: Wheelchair Basketball, Canada
Cindy made her Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing games, and also competed in Nordic skiing at the Pyeongchang winter games in 2018.
For a complete list of athletes, visit OutSports.com
DIVA magazine celebrates 27 years in print in 2021. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQI media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
