09:30, 23 February 2026
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
A record number of out LGBTQ+ athletes competed at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, which concluded with a closing ceremony titled “Beauty in Action” on Sunday 22 February.
Nicknamed “Team LGBTQ+,” at least 48 openly LGBTQ+ athletes took part in the Games, representing around 14 different countries. Among them was Elis Lundholm of Sweden, who made history as the first publicly identified trans athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics.
The number of publicly out LGBTQ+ athletes increased with each edition of the Games, with the highest concentration in Team USA and Team Canada, where around three percent of athletes openly identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer.
Several queer athletes faced off as rivals on opposing teams in Milan, while others competed side by side — including ice hockey stars Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, who represented Team Canada together.
Ice hockey proved to be the most densely represented sport for LGBTQ+ athletes, with 23 openly out players — all women — competing in the tournament, including Poulin and Stacey.
The growing visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes in the sporting world marked a significant cultural moment. In a world that often sidelined queer communities, their presence in Milan served as a powerful reminder that LGBTQ+ people existed, performed, and succeeded at the highest levels of sport.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Pride Sports. This is a UK LGBTQIA+ charity that aims to combat discrimination in sport and highlight inclusion. Learn more here.
Stonewall. Their rainbow laces campaign highlights visible belonging across sport and to support LGBT+ inclusion in sport. Discover their work here.
Football v Homophobia. This is an international initiative to ensure football is safe and welcoming, with a Month of Action in February. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Reduced Inequalities.
