Lewis Gibson. Photo: Phantom Kabocha, via Wikimedia Commons
When the 2026 Winter Olympics kick off on February 6, the Games will officially host a record-breaking cohort of 41 publicly out LGBTQ+ athletes.
This milestone marks the highest level of queer representation in Winter Games history, nearly quadrupling the numbers seen just eight years ago.
The roster is dominated by women, particularly in ice hockey, which features over 20 out players. However, the “Rainbow Wave” spans the entire Olympic park, with medal favorites appearing in everything from curling and skeleton to figure skating.
Leading the charge is Amber Glenn, the three-time U.S. Women’s Champion, who will make history as the first out queer woman to compete in Olympic singles figure skating.
On the hockey rink, legendary Team USA captain Hilary Knight returns for her fifth Games, while Team Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey – the sport’s most famous married couple—aim to defend their gold.
Other high-profile contenders include:
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Lewis Gibson (UK): The out ice dance star and European medalist, who aims for the podium alongside partner Lilah Fear.
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Bruce Mouat (UK): A curling world champion and heavy gold-medal favorite.
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Gus Kenworthy (UK): The action-sports icon returning from retirement for one final Olympic run.
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Conor McDermott-Mostowy (USA): The sole out gay man representing Team USA this winter.
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Kim Meylemans (Belgium): A top-ranked skeleton racer competing alongside her wife, Brazil’s Nicole Silveira.
Advocacy groups note that while 41 is a record-shattering number, it likely represents only a fraction of the total LGBTQ+ community present in Milan. The increase is credited to a shift in sports culture, where younger athletes are increasingly entering the professional arena already living authentically.
As Milan-Cortina prepares for the Opening Ceremony, these 41 trailblazers are proving that visibility is no longer a distraction, but a powerful part of their competitive identity.
