After a Summer Olympic Games that saw a record-smashing number of publicly out lesbian, gay and bisexual athletes, the Paralympics are set to follow suit in Rio.
We know of at least 12 publicly out Paralympians who will be competing for gold in Rio, the most we have known of in a single Paralympics. Just as with the Olympics, we hope this list will grow during the Paralympics as we identify more athletes who have had the courage to come out. Also just as with the Olympics, the vast majority of out athletes we know of are women.
Jen Armbruster (USA, goalball)
Monique Burkland (USA, sitting volleyball)
Abby Dunkin (USA, wheelchair basketball)
Megan Giglia (Great Britain, cycling)
Allison Jones (USA, cycling)
Angela Madsen (USA, track & field)
Aysa Miller (USA, goalball)
Desiree Miller (USA, wheelchair basketball)
Cindy Ouellet (Canada, wheelchair basketball)
Lee Pearson (Great Britain, equestrian)
Moran Samuel (Israel, rowing)
Marieke Vervoort (Belgium, wheelchair racing)
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Great Britain's Claire Harvey, who was set to compete in the discus, had to withdraw due to a hand injury.
In addition there are also some coaches who are out, including Team USA's head women's wheelchair basketball coach and former Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Wheeler, along with her assistant coach, Amy Spangler.
We'll be tracking how all of the LGBT Paralympic athletes and coaches perform over the course of their competitions in Rio.
If you are an LGBT Paralympian or know someone who is publicly out, please email us at [email protected].
