Milano‑Cortina 2026 will feature a record number of openly LGBTQ+ athletes, and not only from Western Europe and North America, in Winter Olympic history, with at least 41 competitors publicly identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or transgender. This continues a rising trend in visibility at the Winter Games, up from 36 out athletes in 2022. Most of these athletes compete in team sports like women’s ice hockey, where queer representation is strong, but they also compete in figure skating, speed skating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, curling, and skeleton. Visibility at this scale shifts attitudes about inclusion in elite winter sports.(Outsports)

Athletes represent over a dozen countries, making history simply by competing. Amber Glenn is the first openly queer woman in Olympic figure skating singles. British curler Bruce Mouat and Swedish moguls skier Elis Lundholm, who is a trans man, are among the notable names. Stars like Hilary Knight, Breezy Johnson, and Sandra Näslund showcase LGBTQ+ representation across both team and individual winter sports.(Out.com)

Openly LGBTQ+ Athletes at Milano‑Cortina 2026