After a few weeks of being locked into the Olympics came to a close, many of us were left feeling empty now that we no longer have the incredible LGBTQ+ athletes from all across the world gracing our screens with their performances.
We saw Lauren Scruggs win the first medal of the games for Team USA, women’s basketball dominate once again with their eighth consecutive gold, and women’s rugby sevens take home the bronze with a breathtaking final try.
Luckily for us, we only had to wait two weeks before the excitement resumed, because the Paralympics begins tonight with its own array of incredible LGBTQ+ athletes.
Not to be confused with the Special Olympics, the Paralympics are the series of athletic competitions for physically disabled athletes. While the sports are adapted to meet the varying needs of these athletes (e.g., blind runners have a guide on the track) the intensity of the Paralympics is no less than the Olympic games. For reference, wheelchair rugby is sometimes referred to as “murderball” due to its aggressive nature.
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball
As an assistant coach of USA’s Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball (WNWB) team, Desi Miller has led the team to gold at the 2022 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation World Championship and the 2023 Santiago Parapan American Games. A retired wheelchair basketball paralympian herself, Miller was co-captain on the winning 2016 Rio Olympics team. She started playing wheelchair basketball at 17, and after just six months on a junior level she was recruited to a college team. Prior to this, she had never played sports competitively. Miller is married to a former German WNWB player, Mareike Miller.
Courtney Ryan was a member of the 2020 WNWB team that won bronze in Rio, and is back competing in Paris in 2024. Ryan previously played soccer an was an All-American defender in college, before she sustained an injury while playing that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Following her injury, she picked up wheelchair basketball and was quickly recruited to play with the University of Arizona, where she now coaches the wheelchair basketball team. Ryan is openly lesbian and is married to her former University of Arizona teammate, Molly Bloom.
Previously a member of the bronze-winning 2020 WNWB team, Eaton began playing basketball as a highschool sophomore in 2010 and then played with the TIRR Memorial Hermann Junior Houston Hotwheels from 2010 to 2012. As an out lesbian, Eaton has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and the way that her LGBTQ+ identity intersects with her identity as someone with a disability. In an interview with Athlete Ally, Eaton said that “being an athlete that has a disability and that is a part of the LGBTQI+ community, inclusion in sport has been life changing for me. I want to use my voice and advocate for everyone's right to feel welcome and included in whatever sport they choose!”
Triathlon
After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 12, Danz decided to have her leg amputated at 14 so that she could return to a lifestyle centered around sports that she had previously pursued. Despite being so athletic, she entered her first triathlon with no prior competitive swimming, running, or biking experience in 2011. Just two years later, “she had earned an ITU Paratriathlon world title, and by 2015 she was named the USA Triathlon Paratriathlete of the Year.” She then competed in the paratriathlon debut in 2016, and won the silver medal in 2020. Danz is openly LGBTQ+ and has been in a relationship with her girlfriend for several years. Danz is also passionate about encouraging viewership of para sports and recently started a fundraiser selling shirts designed by her girlfriend to raise awareness of para sports and their importance.
A Record Number of Out LGBTQ+ Athletes
With at least 38 out LGBTQ+ athletes competing in Paris, the Paralympics is seeing a record number of athletes proudly representing their identity on the world stage. This number is a huge increase from the 36 out athletes competing in Tokyo in 2021, and the 12 out athletes competing in Rio in 2016. These numbers are a testament to the increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes, and the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals within the athletic community.
Beyond the Games: A Look at the Future of LGBTQ+ Athletes
The growing number of out athletes in the Paralympics is a sign of hope for the future of LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. However, there is still work to be done to ensure that all LGBTQ+ athletes feel safe, supported, and respected in their pursuit of athletic excellence. The Paralympics, with its celebration of diversity and inclusion, is leading the way in creating a more equitable and accepting sporting environment for all.
The Paralympic Games: A Celebration of Human Potential
The Paris Paralympics will not only be a showcase of athletic talent, but also a celebration of human potential and resilience. These athletes have overcome extraordinary challenges to reach the pinnacle of their sport, inspiring millions around the world with their courage, determination, and strength. Let us cheer for these athletes, not only for their athletic achievements, but also for their commitment to representation and inclusion in sports. The Paralympics is a testament to the power of sports to bring people together and to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of the human spirit.
