Out And Proud: Paralympic Men Break Records In Paris 2024
According to Outsports, the 2024 Paris Paralympics saw a significant increase in openly gay and bisexual male athletes. This marks a positive shift in representation for the community.
Six men from different countries competed openly:
- Mateus Assis (Brazil, Para Powerlifting)
- Mar Gunnarsson (Iceland, Para Swimming)
- Louis Lawlor (Great Britain, Para Swimming)
- Dimitri Pavade (France, Para Track and Field)
- Kevin van Ham (Belgium, Para Equestrian)
- Ben Weekes (Australia, Wheelchair Tennis)
This number is a big jump from the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, where only one openly gay man competed.
Dimitri Pavade made headlines by coming out during the Games. This brave move is rare in Olympic and Paralympic history.
While these athletes won no medals, their performances were noteworthy:
- Lawlor finished seventh in the S14 100m Backstroke final
- Pavade came fourth in the Men’s Long Jump T64
- Assis and van Ham both placed fifth in their events
This increase in representation aligns with the trend seen at the Olympics, where 21 out men competed.
The absence of Lee Pearson, a long-time out athlete and multiple gold medallist, was noted due to his suspension from the Paris Games.
These athletes’ participation marks a significant step forward for visibility and acceptance in Paralympic sports.
Note: The lead image for this article was originally AI-generated. It has since been amended to accurately represent the athletes discussed in this piece.
