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The next year, he became the most influential gay person in the UK and athlete representing LGBTQ. 

“I don’t want to be known as a gay rugby player. She has also been talented in other sports. According to him, he had a hard time digesting the facts about him being gay.

However, when he finally came out, he received immense support from his teammates, friends, and even the LGBTQ community.

17) Greg Louganis 

(Fully named: Gregory Efthimios Louganis, Nickname: Greg)

Often titled one of the greatest divers in history, Greg is the gold medalist at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics.

"The one thing my mother always said, 'To thine own self be true.'"

Renée Richards, another professional tennis player, was one of the first transgender athletes.

Renée Richards transitioned in the '70s, and in 1976, she applied to participate in the US Open. While he wasn't the first athlete to do so (see Jerry Smith), he was the first to face a huge backlash from it.

She won.

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Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King is one of the most awarded athletes on this list and was one of the first athletes to be outed before being given the opportunity to come out when they were ready. It is also referred to as LGBTQ, where Q stands for queer or questioning for their gender.

They also released him from his contract in 2022.

In May 2025, it was announced that Nassib's No. 94 Oakland Raiders jersey would be displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. He returned to pro football in 2022, joining the European Football League with the Barcelona Dragons.

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Christian Petersen // Getty Images

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner is known as a star in her field.

A year later, in 1995, he first opened up about his sexuality in an interview with Barbara Walters. 

Currently, he is married to paralegal Johnny Chaillot.

18) Gareth Thomas

(Fully named: Gareth Thomas, Nickname: Alfie)

Thomas is a Welsh rugby player who is currently ranked 14th among international try-scorers.

In a world often taught to fear difference or change, it's important to recognize how the brave stances these individuals took paved the way for others to follow.

One of the least represented identities on this list is still actively fighting for their inclusion in sports—transgender athletes, who were a significant target of President Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign and the focus of his pledge to ban trans women and girls from women's sports.

After the Olympics sued him for using the word Olympics, it was changed to simply the Gay Games, which is still played every four years to this day. In 1962, Griffith, a Black professional boxer, chose to live his life (and his love) openly. In the memoir, he alludes to another NFL player in the book, named "Bill," whom Kopay identified as his first love, who was later revealed as record-breaking Redskins tight end Jerry Smith.

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Alan Light // Getty Images

Bob Paris

In the muscle-bound world of Mr.

Universe, Bob Paris broke barriers by publicly coming out in Ironman magazine in 1989. Also, he is a television producer.

Consequently, Robbie came out as gay back in 2013, and in 2016, he married his longtime boyfriend, television writer-producer Greg Berlanti. I never felt like I was in a closet. I never did.

She further stated that "there were members of management that didn't go out of their way to make me their poster biathlete", but that overall she was treated fairly. The first to come out openly in their sport.

openly gay athletes

During her short two years career, she created a charismatic career with an undefeated record in the ring. 

Indeed, many had questions regarding her sexuality.