Although they’re taking place more than a year after they were initially planned and amidst an ongoing pandemic affecting millions around the world, the 2020 Olympics were still held, and just like that, they’ve come to an end.
While the United States finished with the most medals in the end, Team LGBTQ gained the most from the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Related: The Olympics may have more LGBTQ representation than ever but it still has some major issues
“Team LGBTQ,” as they’ve been dubbed, had more athletes at the Games than 190 of the 206 participating Olympic squads — 205 from different countries or independently-participating territories (such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa), and one team made of refugee athletes.
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182 different LGBTQ athletes made an Olympics team, representing 30 different countries in 34 of the 46 sports. All in all, they earned 56 medals between them, which would put them in sixth as an official Olympic Team.
That means Team LGBTQ had more medals than 200 Olympic squads that went to Tokyo.
According to Outsports, their 56 medals are more than any country or state that still criminalizes homosexuality, including Kenya, Jamaica, and Iran combined.
This years #Olympics feature a record number of LGBTQ+ athletes with over 160. Representation in global events like this is important, especially when 70 of the 205 nations taking part still criminalise gay people. Seeing these role models living proudly sends a powerful message.
— Tom Knight (@TJ_Knight) July 23, 2021
LGBTQ athletes accomplished so much more than what they took home from the medal podiums in Tokyo, however. Following years of zero to limited amount of athletes being able to participate in the Olympics while publicly out, this year’s games included more than triple the amount of LGBTQ athletes than the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
For nearly every day of the official Olympic competition, there was an out athlete present. The United States had the most out representation in Tokyo with 36 American athletes.
WE ARE SO PROUD. ♥️🤍 💙 🇺🇸 🎤
🥇 39
🥈 41
🥉 33626 athletes. 17 days. 113 medals.
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
Not only were athletes there and participating, but — despite the Olympics’ ban on “political” messaging at the Games — several athletes proudly displayed their LGBTQ family members, same-sex relationships, and their identities at several opportunities.
Out diver Tom Daley won his first Olympic gold medal as his husband, son, and mom, cheered him on. Then he kept going viral, either for knitting during competitions or opening boxes of condoms.
Tom Daley, you just won an #Olympics gold medal – are you gonna go to Disney World?
Tom Daley: pic.twitter.com/DxN1pluGJW
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) July 29, 2021
🧶 If knitting was an #Olympics sport, diver and LGBT+ icon @TomDaley1994 would win another gold medal. 🥇pic.twitter.com/C6BxVYDjmP
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) August 5, 2021
Stefanie Dolson became the first out American athlete to win gold at the Olympics by leading Team USA’s 3×3 basketball squad to victory early during the Games.
#USA win the first ever #3×3 women's gold medal!@TeamUSA #StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | @FIBA3x3 pic.twitter.com/SpKXz6dOlS
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 28, 2021
17-10 Win! So proud of you @usab3x3! #Olympics https://t.co/81S8uFfBpr
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) July 24, 2021
Power couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, who has competed and excelled at several Olympics, both took home medals — Rapinoe received bronze in soccer while Bird earned her fifth gold medal in basketball — and was one of the few romances on display at the crowd-less Olympics.
❤️@mPinoe x @S10Bird #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/WetI2lzmI5
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
"Everything you would want in someone you look up to."@mPinoe is so proud of her fiancée, @S10bird. #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/szeqFbit6F
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
The Golden Gals!
With 5 gold medals EACH, @DianaTaurasi and @S10Bird have the record for most gold medals in Olympic basketball history. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/d34PDLOxXD
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
With their hairstyles, speeches, and flair, several other out athletes earned adoration from around the world just for being there.
Congrats @GiveMe1Shot!
"Shout out to all my Black people, shout out to all my LGBTQ community, shout out to everybody dealing with mental health. Because at the end of the day, we understand that it’s bigger than us, and it’s bigger than the powers that be." 💜🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/PjSfasea5O
— It Gets Better (@ItGetsBetter) August 3, 2021
Let them try and take this medal. I’m running across the border even though I can’t swim 😂 https://t.co/B59N2v9KAk
— Raven HULK Saunders (@GiveMe1Shot) August 1, 2021
Four teams with publicly out athletes won medals over the last few days. Congrats to everyone taking home a medal! #TeamLGBTQhttps://t.co/vnCZo6JU8u pic.twitter.com/FmHm6ha26K
— Outsports (@outsports) August 7, 2021
Even Jordan Windle, who is not out, expressed how grateful he felt to make his dad, a single gay man, proud by making it to Tokyo.
Perfect timing. @DiverJordan x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/TSraSvGhg4
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 7, 2021
These were also the first games at which openly transgender athletes were explicitly permitted to participate, and four made the trip to Tokyo.
On July 21, before the Opening Ceremony even commenced, soccer player Quinn became the first openly trans or non-binary athlete to participate in Olympic competition ever.
Two others would eventually compete: Laurel Hubbard, a trans woman weightlifter from New Zealand, and Alana Smith, an American non-binary skateboarder. Neither would medal in their competition, however. Chelsea Wolfe also represented the United States on their inaugural BMX squad, but did not compete as she was an alternate.
First, Laurel is the first out trans woman to qualify for the Olympics (US BMX biker Chelsea Wolfe is also an alternate for team USA this year). The idea that there is some takeover is simply belied by the fact that there is 1 person qualifying over many decades of inclusion.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) June 22, 2021
Laurel Hubbard. Your courage and heart is an example.
Thank you for sharing it with us! pic.twitter.com/g0cO5TzZQx— Karleigh Chardonnay Webb (@ChardonnayM) August 2, 2021
Laurel Hubbard represented her country & the trans community with poise amidst the most awful of commentary & transphobic comments.
I am so proud of you, Laurel. You are an Olympian & trailblazer.#Tokyo2020 #transathlete
— The Chris Mosier (@TheChrisMosier) August 2, 2021
Quinn, however, would go on to win the gold medal with Team Canada. That made them the first trans athlete to ever win a gold medal while out, let alone an Olympic medal.
Hey look, a transgender athlete won a gold medal and the earth didn’t implode. https://t.co/Md7oNyhQGV
— That Queer Guy❤️💜💙 (@LGBTQVoter) August 6, 2021
🇨🇦 Congratulations to @CanadaSoccerEN's @TheQuinny5 for making #Olympics history and becoming the first-ever openly trans nonbinary athlete to win a gold medal🥇.
👏 We love to see it. 🏳️🌈 #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/FRofNAmdvW
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) August 6, 2021
🇨🇦 @CanadaSoccerEN's Quinn has made #Olympics history after winning a gold medal in the football finals 🥇.
🏳️🌈 They became the first openly trans nonbinary athlete to win a medal!
Here's why it's important 👇 pic.twitter.com/uKxFyOOWoZ
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) August 7, 2021
This is so cool! pic.twitter.com/JbDOsOJZg1
— Karleigh Chardonnay Webb (@ChardonnayM) August 6, 2021
Despite the remarkable presence and progress for LGBTQ athletes, not all of what happened at the Games were good news for them.
Although LGBTQ athletes could participate, many remained unable to do so due to limitations set by the International Olympic Committee, individual countries or other athletic governing bodies — such as World Athletics, which regulates many track and field sports.
Sha’Carri Richardson, a bisexual track and field athlete that became a household name this summer for her bright hair and unapologetic personality, was suspended from competing professionally and not offered a trip to the Olympics because she had tested positive for consuming marijuana.
Richardson later explained that she did so after being told by a reporter that her biological mother had died, an event she wasn’t aware of prior, and understandably caused her to grieve days before competing in front of the world.
Meanwhile, other athletes that promoted CBD or were accused of criminal acts were allowed to compete in other sports.
Sha’Carri Richardson was barred from the Olympics for smoking weed. https://t.co/VdcF1sYKii
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) July 26, 2021
But @itskerrii can’t run because of a joint? Give me a damn break. https://t.co/mtDHP7ojd3
— Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta) July 25, 2021
Several other cisgender and intersex women have been banned from certain competitions because of their natural hormones. The ones that made the trip and took part in other competitions, such as Namibia’s Christine Mboma and Francine Niyonsaba, were disqualified on technicalities or had their identities further questioned.
Trans women tried to tell you https://t.co/ErNJlpvuxP
— Katelyn Burns (@transscribe) August 6, 2021
Several out Olympic athletes were attacked from all corners of the world, from conservatives on social media to the former President in press releases to state-produced media in anti-LGBTQ countries such as Russia.
Meanwhile, the Canadian team that beat the US took a knee during the anthem and has been using the hashtag #canxnt because their player Quinn is about to become the first openly trans person to win an Olympic medal https://t.co/fC6AlG0Nid pic.twitter.com/NOEJgTFgll
— Molly Hensley-Clancy (@mollyhc) August 5, 2021
The current President had much kinder words.
I’m so proud of you, @TeamUSA. Thank you for showing what we can do together as one America and as one team. pic.twitter.com/9Qc7kCavCk
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 7, 2021
In total, the United States took home the most medal placements with a haul of 113 combined. China came in at 88, with the Russian Olympic Committee — not officially representing Russia due to sanctions levied on the country due to an alleged doping scandal — had 71. Team USA also had the most Olympic gold with 39, one more than China.
Team USA finished the Tokyo Olympics with 113 overall medals to China's 88, including 39 golds — the most of any country. pic.twitter.com/1Dl7Wdwbg6
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 8, 2021
Now, the world begins to look on to Paris for the next Summer Olympics in 2024. Before that, though, the 2020 Paralympics commence in Tokyo in just 16 days, followed by the 2022 Winter Olympics scheduled in six months in Beijing.
A Closing Ceremony tradition, the handoff of the Olympic flag to the Mayor of Paris, the next host city.
1,083 days until Paris 2024.#Tokyo2020 #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/0BhDHJXfiA
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) August 8, 2021
The countdown begins again! 1️⃣5️⃣ Days To Go! #Paralympics
The #Olympics are over but we still have plenty of incredible sporting action to look forward to at the #Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games pic.twitter.com/qfcjaLQrFZ
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 9, 2021
🔥❄️All venues and facilities for Beijing 2022 are close to complete. ♻️🌟They all aim to promote sustainability, and all the venues will be open for public use for winter sports after the games. #Beijing2022 #Olympics Learn more at➡️ https://t.co/C0bpbiD68Q
📸TieJiang pic.twitter.com/xSDRxEbX7P— Beijing 2022 (@Beijing2022) August 4, 2021
Over two weeks, over 1000 medals, over 1500 tweets 🔥
The @Olympics #Tokyo2020 was something special 💪
Wherever you are around the globe, we thank you all ❤️
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
33 sports. 46 disciplines. 43 venues. 339 medal events.
The #TokyoOlympics formally came to an end Sunday with the closing ceremony. pic.twitter.com/FTPmE4celH
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 8, 2021