Representing The Pink, Going For The Gold
10,293 confirmed athletes are competing in Rio. 43 are out. 11 of them are men. Which one is your summer boyfriend?
Singlets, Speedos, and shorts. Gymnasts, divers, and runners. Mix and match them together and you have the sixteen days when even everyone becomes a sports fan, the Summer Olympics. There are 11 gay male hopefuls in Rio hoping to bring back the gold for their countries. And while you may see some of them in lycra, you won’t see any sporting Old Glory.
The number of American Olympians who were publicly out while competing is actually a very short list.
The first was equestrian Robert Dover who competed in ’84, ’88, ’92, ’96, ’00, & ’04. He was joined in 2004 by fellow equestrian Guenter Seidel. Diver Patrick Jeffrey was openly gay as a diver in the 1996 Olympics. Diver Greg Louganis and freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy came out after their Games.
Jim Buzinski of OutSports explores why American male athletes don’t come out publicly.
Time to meet the eleven gay male athletes of the Rio Summer Olympics
| Robbie Manson – New Zealand – Rowing | Amni Fonua – Tonga – Swimming |
| OutSports | Instagram | Facebook | OutSports | Instagram | Facebook |
| Ian Matos – Brazil – Diving | Jeffrey Wammes – Netherlands – Gymnastics |
| OutSports | Instagram | Glaad | Web Site | Instagram | Twitter |
| Ari-Pekka Liukkonen – Finland – Swimming | Tom Daley– UK – Diving |
| OutSports | Instagram | Facebook | OutSports | Instagram | Facebook |
| Carl Hester – UK – Equestrian | Peter Minderhoudh – Netherlands – Equestrian |
| Web Site | Instagram | Facebook | FEI.org | Twitter | Facebook |
| Spencer Wilton – UK – Equestrian | Tom Bosworth – UK – Race Walk |
| OutSports | Web Site | Facebook | OutSports | Instagram | Facebook |
[Vote for your favorite gay Olymmpian at The Sword]
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