The 23 Openly Gay Athletes Of The 2012 Olympics

Out of more than 12,000 athletes, 20 are openly gay.

1. Matthew Mitcham — Diving — Australia

Age: 24
Twitter: @Matthew_Mitcham
Bio: Mitcham won gold at the 2008 Olympics. When fellow Australian Olympians Russell and Lauryn Mark of the shooting team complained that they couldn’t stay together in the Olympic village, saying it was anti-heterosexual descrimination and that gay couples could stay together, Mitcham spoke out against them on Twitter. “Since there were only 11 out gays across all nations [in 2008], I’d hardly consider that a ton. Known couples are split anyway.” He followed it up with, “The last thing I need is a sexually frustrated breeder with a shotgun being cross with me. No comment, thank you very much!!” So he’s pretty funny. Also he loves memes.

Image by Chris Hyde / Getty Images

2. Judith Arndt — Cycling — Germany

Age: 35 (turns 36 next week)
Twitter: N/A
Bio: Arndt is a two-time Olympic medalist (Bronze in 2000 and Silver in 2004) and has won multiple international cycling championships as well as national championships in Germany. Her and her partner, fellow cyclist Petra Rossner, have been together for over fifteen years.

Image by KARIM JAAFAR / Getty Images

3. Marilyn Agliotti — Field Hockey — Netherlands

Age: 33
Twitter: @MarilynAngliotti
Bio: The field hockey star is a South African native, who began representing the Netherlands after a move to Holland. Agliotti was a member of the 2008 Olympic gold medal team, and is an outspoken advocate for more openness about the homosexuality in her sport.

Image by Eduardo Di Baia / AP

4. Carole Péon — Triathlon — France

Age: 33
Twitter:N/A
Bio: Péon is an accomplished triathlete, who will be competing in her second Olympics in London. She is dating fellow French Olympian Jessica Harrison.

Image by ARNOLD LIM / AP

5. Lisa Raymond — Tennis — USA

Age: 38
Twitter: @lisaraymond73
Bio: Lisa Raymond is one of the best doubles tennis players in the world. She’s won 6 Doubles Grand Slams and 5 Mixed Doubles Grand Slams, and is currently a part of the number one ranked pair in the world. She’s been romantically connected to fellow Tennis star and former doubles partner Rennae Stubbs in the past, but the two are no longer together.

Image by Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

6. Imke Duplitzer— Fencing — Germany

(Steffen Andritzke/The Epoch Times)

Age: 36 (turns 37 next week)
Twitter: @ImkeDuplitzer
Bio: Duplitzer was a part of the German Women’s Epeé fencing team that won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics. She has the best official website ever.

7. Edward Gal — Dressage — Netherlands

Age: 42
Twitter: @Edward_Gal
Bio: Gal and his current horse, Moorlands Totilas, are dominant in the international dressage world. At the 2010 World Championships they won three gold medals and are expected to fare well in London. Gal is in a long term relationship with Hans Peter Minderhoud, another equestrian from the Netherlands.

Image by ROBIN UTRECHT / Getty Images

8. Jessica Harrison — Triathlon — France

Age: 35
Twitter:@JessMako
Bio: Born and raised in England, Harrison became a naturalized French citizen to help her realize her dream of making the Olympics. In 2008 she did, coming in 12th at the Beijing Olympics. She’s dating fellow French Olympian, Carole Péon.

Image by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / Getty Images

9. Maartje Paumen — Field Hockey — Netherlands

Age: 33
Twitter: @MaartjePaumen
Bio: Paumen is among the best field hockey players in the world. Along with Marilyn Agliotti, she was on the 2008 Netherlands team that won gold at the Olympics. Paumen was named the 2011 Player of the Year at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Argentina.

Image by JUAN MABROMATA / Getty Images

10. Seimone Augustus — Basketball — USA

Age: 28
Twitter: @SeimoneAugustus
Bio: Augustus is a WNBA Champion, Finals MVP, three-time All Star, and former Rookie of the year. She played her college ball at LSU, where she led the Tigers to three straight Final Fours. She is currently engaged to marry her girlfriend, LaTaya Varner.

Image by Nick Wass / AP

11. Natalie Cook — Beach Volleyball — Australia

Age: 37
Twitter: N/A
Bio: Cook has long been one of the most accomplished beach volleyball players in the world. She won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics and a gold at the 2000 games. She’s married to Canadian beach volleyball player, Sarah Maxwell.

Image by Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

12. Jessica Landström — Soccer — Sweden

Age: 27
Twitter: @Landstrom_
Bio: Landström scored a decisive goal in the 2011 Women’s World Cup against Columbia, but spent most of the team’s run to third place coming off the bench. The London Olympics will be her first.

Image by Friedemann Vogel / Getty Images

13. Alexandra Lacrabére — Handball — France

Age: 25
Twitter:N/A
Bio: London will mark Lecrabére’s second Olympics, she was on the French team in China that failed to medal. She came out in Hand Action magazine last November.

Image by RICARDO MORAES / Reuters

14. Megan Rapinoe — Soccer — USA

Age: 27
Twitter: @mPinoe
Bio: A member of the 2011 US Women’s Soccer Team that nearly won the World Cup, Rapinoe created one of the team’s signature highlights when she set Abby Wambach up with a beautiful desperation cross that led to the US’s 122nd minute goal against Brazil to keep the US’s World Cup hopes alive. Rapinoe came out of the closet earlier this month and revealed that she’s been in a three-year relationship with an Australian soccer player.

Image by Harry How / Getty Images

UPDATED: We missed a few in the initial version of this list. We’ve since added those that have been brought to our attention If you know of anyone else who is missing, please let us know in the comments.

15. Carl Hester — Dressage — Great Britain

Age: 45
Twitter: @HesterDressage
Bio: Hester rode for the British dressage team that won the gold at the 2011 European Dressage Championship. He is one of the top riders in the world.

Image by Clive Mason / Getty Images

16. Mayssa Pessoa — Handball — Brazil

Age: 28
Twitter: @MayssaPessoa
Bio: Pessoa is a top goalkeeper in the world of handball. She plays professionally in France.

17. Hedvig Lindahl — Soccer — Sweden

Age: 29
Twitter: @Hedvig_Lindahl
Bio: Lindahl is a tok goalkeeper in Sweden’s professional women’s soccer league. She’s played internationally for almost 10 years. She was on the Swedish team that won Silver at the World Championships in 2003.

Image by JOHANNES EISELE / Getty Images

18. Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel — Field Hockey — Netherlands

Age: 25
Twitter: N/A
Bio: Dirkse van den Heuvel is an up and coming field hockey star in the Netherlands. London will mark her first Olympics as she teams up with fellow out bringing a second straight gold medal to the Netherlands.

Image by ENRIQUE MARCARIAN / Reuters

19. Rikke Skov — Handball — Denmark

Age: 31
Twitter: N/A
Bio: Rikke Skov was a member of the 2004 Olympic handball team that won gold for Denmark. She’s won many awards for her play on both the international and club levels. In 2009 she retired from the sport, before changing her mind, and returning to the national team.

Image by Bela Szandelszky / AP

20. Lisa Dahlkvist — Soccer — Sweden

Age: 25
Twitter: @LisaDahlkvist
Bio: Dahlkvist is a young midfielder for Sweden. She played on their 2011 World Cup team. She’s been out since 2008.

Image by THOMAS KIENZLE / Getty Images

21. UPDATE: Karen Hultzer — Archery — South Africa

Age: 46
Twitter:@karenhultzer
Bio: Hultzer came out publicly during the 2012 London Olympics. She told OutSports:

I am an archer, middle aged and a lesbian. I am also cranky before my first cup of coffee. None of these aspects define who I am, they are simply part of me. I am fortunate that my sexual identity is not an issue, and I don’t suffer the level of discrimination and violence that black lesbians in South Africa do. I look forward to the day when this is a non-issue and as relevant as my eye color or favorite sushi.

Image by Paul Gilham / Getty Images

22. Kim Lammers — Field Hockey — Netherlands

Age: 31
Twitter: @Lammerskim
Bio: Plays for the Dutch club, Laren. 2012 marked her first Olympics.

Image by CHRIS HELGREN / Reuters

23. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg — Cycling — Germany

Age: 37
Twitter: @Yokoteute
Bio: Competed for Germany at both the 2000 and 2012 Olympics.

Image by Bryn Lennon / Getty Images

Bonus: Pia Sundhage — Soccer Coach — USA

Image by Colin E. Braley / AP

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LINK

List of names via OutSports. Read more about gay Olympians here.

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