Team LGBTQ entered the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing with more members than any previous Winter Games. Outsports has counted 36 out athletes from 14 different countries in multiple sports.
But what if these athletes were a country themselves, flying the rainbow flag and blaring Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” for their national anthem?
Team LGBTQ would have finished these Winter Olympics ranked 12th in the medal standings, just ahead of Italy and Japan, using the traditional gold-silver-bronze-total system of medal count.
As far as number of athletes, the Team LGBTQ contingent would be the 25th-largest at these Games, just behind speed-skating powerhouse Netherlands. A 12th-place finish for the 25th-largest contingent is a solid showing.
All told, 14 different out athletes won a total of nine medals at these games, meaning 39% of all out athletes won at least one medal. That’s a really good ratio.
Team LGBTQ’s final medal count:
Gold: 4
Silver: 2
Bronze: 3
The current Team LGBTQ medal winners at the Beijing Winter Olympics:
Gold Medalists
Sandra Naeslund, Sweden, figure skiing
Naeslund won ski cross for Sweden.
Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, Erin Ambrose, Melodie Daoust, Jamie Lee Rattray, Jill Saulnier, Micah Zandee-Hart, Canada, ice hockey
Canada won its fifth Olympic gold in women’s ice hockey, beating the United States in the final, 3-2.
Guillaume Cizeron, France, figure skating
With partner Gabriela Papadakis, the duo had previously won four World Championships and an Olympic silver medal in ice dance. Now they’ve won gold.
Ireen Wust, Netherlands, speed skating
The most-decorated out LGBTQ Olympian of all time won the 1500-meter. She’s now the third-most decorated Winter Olympian in history.
Silver Medalists
Bruce Mouat, Great Britain, curling
Bruce Mouat and Team Great Britain took silver, losing to Sweden in the gold-medal match.
Alex Carpenter, United States, ice hockey
Team USA won its fourth Olympic silver medal, winning a medal each of the seven years women’s ice hockey has been held at the Olympics.
Bronze Medalists
Brittany Bowe, United States, speed skating
Bowe won her first Olympic individual medal, taking bronze in the women’s 1000-meter.
Ireen Wust, Netherlands, speed skating
The speed skating legend added to her medal haul, taking bronze in the team pursuit.
Ronja Savolainen, Finland, ice hockey
Finland’s women’s hockey team, with Savolainen playing a big role, won its second consecutive bronze medal in women’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.
