Among the participants in the Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, 31 were openly queer. This number is more than double the number of queer athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Yesterday was the start of the Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. Blikk previously reported that there were at least 131 athletes at this year’s Olympics who were considered strange. This figure then becomes adjustable up to 185. Now the Paralympics are also breaking all records.

based on Outdoor sportsThere are at least 31 openly queer athletes who will compete in the Tokyo Paralympics which ends on September 5.

This number is more than double the number of queer athletes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. At that time, Outsports only knew that there were 12 openly queer LGBT+ athletes.

Women outperform men

Queer athletes represent 10 different countries and 12 sports. The United States and England reign supreme, but nine athletes each are odd. Canada followed with three.

Outsports obtained this information with the help of journalists and other contacts. They warn that some countries and sports are overrepresented because that is where most of their contacts live. This list is expected to grow in the future, as more information about athletes from other parts of the world becomes available.

Nonetheless, the list so far highlights some interesting statistics. There is by far the strangest woman. So far, only one queer male athlete has been reported: British dressage racer Sir David Lee Pearson, who has been an 11-time dressage gold medalist.

Nearly half of queer women compete in wheelchair basketball. This includes four athletes on the England wheelchair basketball team: Lucy Robinson, Jude Hamer, Robyn Love and Laurie Williams.

Love and Williams shared the news of their engagement some time ago. They did this on Love’s Instagram account, with the caption: “Teammates and soulmates since 2015.”

Furthermore, Love wrote: “I don’t think I would have progressed so quickly if he hadn’t pushed me so hard (…). It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but competing at the highest level under incredible pressure has made our relationship stronger. strong and I can’t wait to compete in Tokyo together.”

There are at least three non-binary athletes on the list: Australian track and field athletes Robyn Lambird and Maz Strong, and American rower Laura Goodkind.

Lambird shared the news of her Paralympic qualification on Instagram, writing:

“It’s been a crazy six year journey with a lot of ups and downs, but I can truly say this is a dream come true.”