Author: Kari Jackson

With the Olympics officially underway, the world is watching the immense talent of these star athletes. Track and field has remained a popular favorite event and averages 4.5 million viewers. With this in mind, we are highlighting track and field Olympians who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Image by Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri Richardson has taken the world by storm and proved her dominance. In 2019, she beat a record in the 100m race, coming in at 10.75 seconds, knocking out a 42-year outstanding record. Since then, Richardson has brought home two medals in the World Championships. She won gold in the 100m sprint and bronze in the 200m sprint. She was also a part of Team USA’s 4x100m relay race, which also won gold. With so many accomplishments at just 24 years of age, there is so much to look forward to in her career. Not only is Richardson an amazing track athlete, but she is also representing the LGBTQ+ community. Although Richardson is private about her personal life, she has shared that she is bisexual and currently has a girlfriend.

Image by Nikki Hiltz

Nikki Hiltz is a 29-year-old athlete who has been dominating the running scene. They have been a runner-up twice in the Women’s NCAA 1,500m championships, and they also scored the second fastest time for any American in the 2024 Olympic trials. Aside from Hiltz's impressive career wins, they are also paving the way for LGBTQ+ athletes. They came out as transgender and nonbinary in 2021 and has been an advocate for anti-transgender guidelines. Hiltz is pushing for equality within the Olympics, and their representation within the games has been influential for viewers and fans. They have become a role model and are showing the world that you can do what you love and not have to sacrifice your identity.

Image by Ana Carolina Azevedo

Ana Carolina Azevedo is a Brazilian runner who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games. She has competed in events in Brazil and has racked up some amazing records. For the 100m race, her personal best is 11.18 seconds. In the 200m race, her record is 22.91 seconds. Azevedo also participates in the long jump and holds impressive scores in that category as well. Alongside her amazing athletic abilities, she is also representing the LGBTQ+ community.

Image by Michelle-Lee Ahye

Michelle-Lee Ahye is a sprinter from Trinidad and Tobago. She is 32 years old and will be competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. This will be her fourth time at the Olympics, and she will be aiming for gold. In the past, she was a bronze medalist at the World Championships, a Commonwealth Games winner, and she was in the top eight at the Olympics three times. Ahye recently got married to her longtime girlfriend, Crystal Emmanuel. Emmanuel is also an Olympian athlete, and they have competed against each other. This year will be their first time competing as a married couple. The couple got married in the US, as same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Trinidad and Tobago.

Pride at the Olympics: Runners