While
there were dozens of closeted gay and lesbian athletes, we know of
only seven who were publicly out. Here they are and how they fared.
Mia
Hundvin, Norway (photo top); Camilla Andersen, Denmark,
handball
There are precious medals in the Andersen-Hundvin household.
Gold for Camilla and bronze for Mia.
These two go in as a single entry since they're legally
married in Denmark. They became the first spouses to play each
other in Olympic competition as Norway played Denmark in the
first round of handball.
In the gold medal match against Hungary, Denmark, led by
Andersen, roared back from six down to win the gold. In the
bronze medal game Hundvin scored the game-winner as Norway
beat Korea, 22-21.
Sports Illustrated, in perhaps a first- of- its- kind story in
the magazine, ran
a lengthy feature on the two, who are much-discussed
celebrities in their countries.
According to SI, Andersen, 27, had been the lover of handball
legend Anja Anderson after they won the gold for Denmark in
1996. Hundvin, 23, had been named by one publication as
Norway's sexiest woman. Their ``acquaintanceship,'' as SI
dubbed it, blossomed into love last year.
Robert Dover
Equestrian Bronze Medallist
We received this great e-mail from Robert on Thanksgiving: ``In Sydney I competed in my fifth 5th Olympics as an out, gay athlete
from the sport of equestrian. I went on to win my third consecutive
bronze medal from the last three games.
``Sydney was fantastic in every way and, interestingly, as the three teams stood on the podiums, I noted that the three males who won medals were all gay (two American and one Dutch). There was also at least one closeted lesbian. I can tell you that gays take part in the majority of sports. Both David Pichler and I were elected Team Captains for our sports and I sit on the Athletes Advisory Council to the
USOC.'' Read
about Dover being selected team captain
Check out Dover's illustrious career
Lisa-Marie
Vizaniari, Australia, discus
Vizaniari, 29. a medal hopeful, finished eighth in the discus.
In an interview with the Sydney Star Observer she discussed
her sexual orientation this way: ``. “I’m an elite athlete
who just happens to be gay. Look at Maurice Green – he’s
an elite athlete who just happens to be black. It’s
irrelevant, it doesn’t matter what color your skin is or
what your sexuality is.”
Lisa's coach is also her girlfriend: Michelle Reeves. She had
this to say to the Observer about their relationship:
“I coached my girlfriend to be my coach. I was very
impressed with how quickly she picked it up. We’re very
professional in what we do, although it was very difficult to
start off with. Athletes can be a real pain in the arse
sometimes.”
Conchita
Martinez, Spain, tennis
Martinez, 28, went out early in her events, lasting until the
second round of singles and second round of doubles.
Amelie
Mauresmo, France, tennis
Mauresmo, 21, went out in the first round of singles, and
lasted until the quarterfinals of doubles.
David Pichler,
USA, Diving Competing in his final Olympics, the 32-year-old from Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla., had an uneven competition. In his individual
event Pichler finished ninth in the 10-meter platform. In two
synchronized events he and Troy Dumais finished just two
points from a bronze medal in the 3-meter springboard; while
he and Mark Ruiz were a disappointing seventh in the 10-meter
platform.
There's a subtext to the Pichler story that many may not
know about. Outsports contributor Chip
Rogers provides the
background:
David Pichler is one of the USA's greatest divers. At 32
he has won 12 national titles and is generally considered a
threat in international competition. If he were on a more
publicized team, he might be considered a media darling.
There are just a couple of ripples in this water, though. He's
been at odds with the technical director of the USA diving
program, Ron O'Brien, for years.
It's gotten to the point where they don't even speak any
more. That's like a football coach not talking to his
quarterback. The problems stem from Pichler's sexual
orientation, or rather O'Brien's unwillingness to accept it.
Basically the two are at odds, and this rift will never be
healed.
Pichler left the Fort Lauderdale Diving Team in 1996 after
what he considered continual harassment at the hands of
O'Brien and his son Tim.
Pichler contends that the O'Briens have harassed Pichler's
companion, Steven Guiffre, on a consistent basis. This
complaint goes all the way back to 1996, and it's showing no
signs of stopping.
O'Brien was quoted as saying that he felt Pichler was in a
relationship that was affecting his [Pichler's] performance in
1996. Pichler filed a complaint with US Diving, which rejected
the complaint and reaffirmed O'Brien's role as technical
director.
O'Brien went so far as to get a restraining order against
Guiffre for him and his family. Claims and counter-claims of
physical attacks and mental abuse have rotated back and forth,
with the latest confrontation taking place in Sydney at the
2000 Games.
Evidently, Guiffre and O'Brien got into it again in Sydney,
with Guiffre protesting O'Brien's presence in a portion of the
stands for which he did not have a ticket, and O'Brien snapped
right back with a comment about Guiffre.
