There was a record number of publicly out LGBTQ athletes at the Paris Paralympics (as were at the Olympics). And there was also a record number of publicly out men.
Outsports’ final count had six out men — be they gay or bi — at the 2024 Paralympics:
- Mateus Assis, Brazil, Para Powerlifting
- Mar Gunnarsson, Iceland, Para Swimming
- Louis Lawlor, Great Britain, Para Swimming
- Dimitri Pavade, France, Para Track & Field
- Kevin van Ham, Belgium, Para Equestrian
- Ben Weekes, Australia, Wheelchair Tennis
Dimitri Pavade made news during the Paralympics by coming out publicly — in his home country. We’ve seen athletes come out in the middle of the Olympics or Paralympics only a handful of times, which made Pavade’s revelation particularly special.
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This year’s “list” of out men in Paris represents an important shift.
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At the Tokyo Paralympics just three years ago, British para-dressage legend Sir Lee Pearson had been the only publicly out male athlete that Outsports knew of. So the increase to six athletes — from six different countries, in five different sports — is a great signal.
The increase was also reflected at the Olympics, which saw 21 out men representing their countries.
While several of the men won Olympic medals, it’s actually the first time in many years that an out man did not win a Paralympics medal. That’s because Pearson had been out for a while as he won Paralympic gold medals in equestrian at every Games since 2000. Pearson was suspended from competing in Paris.
At the same time, some of the out male Paralympians did very well.
Lawlor finished seventh — and in the final — of the S14 100m Backstroke. Pavade finished just off the medal podium — in fourth — in the Men’s Long Jump T64. Assis finished fifth in the Men’s up to 107kg powerlifting. Van Ham also finished fifth.
Regardless, huge congratulations to all of the out LGBTQ athletes who represented our community during the 2024 Paralympics in Paris!
