LGBTQ Olympic Athletes Take Over and Bring Home Medals
America brings home Olympic bronze! Megan Rapinoe scored the winning goal against Australia to lead the US Women’s National Team to victory. The women’s soccer team never gave up after nixing their chance at a gold with their loss against Canada, giving our nation an incredible comeback story and arriving home with yet another medal.
Rapinoe came in hot by opening up the game with a goal directly off a corner kick. This is the second time she’s pulled off this rare, “Olimpico“ goal in her time at the Olympics. Her second goal of the night assured her team the bronze by putting them in the lead for good and giving them that sweet victory over Australia.
“We found that joy,” she says. “We found that freedom. And we just settled into the game early, which is great.”
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However, when the U.S. lost to Canada, it assured the Canadians at least a silver medal. This granted Quinn, Canadian soccer player who goes by one name and uses they/them pronouns, the privilege to be the first transgender athlete to win a medal at the Olympics. Back in 2016, before Quinn came out as transgender and nonbinary, they won a bronze medal in the Summer Olympics.
“I’m so proud of my team. They’re my best friends. I’m so glad we’re bringing back a better medal than bronze,” Quinn says after their team’s win over the U.S. in the semifinals.
Canada faced off with Sweden and came home with the W. They pulled out a victory after a sudden death penalty shootout, leaving Quinn to be not only the first transgender athlete to win a medal, but also the first transgender athlete to win a gold one.
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These Olympic athletes have made their communities proud by bringing home some serious medals and continuing to shed light on LGBTQ awareness.
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