Every four years, we all become experts in sports we never watch.
Suddenly we care deeply about edge control in figure skating, the difference between moguls and slopestyle, and how, exactly, skeleton athletes steer a sled with their chin. The Winter Olympics have a way of pulling us in like that. Group chats light up. Sleep schedules get weird. We all start yelling at the TV like seasoned commentators.
And if you’re LGBTQ? The Games hit a little different.
Because now, alongside the jaw-dropping athleticism and dramatic finishes, we get something else: the joy of seeing LGBTQ athletes on the world’s biggest stage. Not as a footnote. Not as a quiet sidebar. But as medal contenders, team leaders, fan favorites, and social-media delights, whose training clips, gear hauls, and behind-the-scenes moments we’ve been following for months.
This year, there are dozens of out athletes competing in Milan-Cortina. And while we love them for their talent first, there’s something undeniably special about cheering for LGBTQ Olympians who are living their truth loudly, proudly, and very publicly in a space that hasn’t always made room for that.
So as if we didn’t already have enough reasons to tune in, here are LGBTQ Olympians we’re especially excited to watch, follow, and absolutely lose our voices cheering for.
Figure Skating
Amber Glenn
USA | Women’s Singles
Amber Glenn is one of the most exciting figure skaters to watch right now, period. Her skating is powerful, emotional, and fearless, and she’s also one of the most visible LGBTQ athletes in the sport. Beyond the jumps and choreography, Amber has been refreshingly open about her mental health, her journey, and her identity. Following her feels personal in the best way, like you’re rooting for a whole human, not just a medal count.
Makayla Gerken Schofield
Great Britain | Moguls
Makayla Gerken Schofield brings style and confidence to moguls skiing, a sport that somehow looks both chaotic and impossibly precise. She’s openly pansexual and has become a visible LGBTQ presence in British winter sports. Her energy on and off the snow makes her a fun follow, especially as she shares the realities of elite training alongside lighter, everyday moments.
Elis Lundholm
Sweden | Moguls
Elis Lundholm is making history as one of the first openly trans athletes to compete at the Winter Olympics. That alone makes their presence monumental. On the snow, Elis is focused, technical, and relentless. Off the snow, their visibility matters deeply, offering representation that has been long overdue in winter sport spaces.
Sandra Näslund
Sweden | Ski Cross
Sandra Näslund is a dominant force in ski cross and an openly lesbian athlete at the very top of her game. If you’re new to ski cross, she’s the kind of athlete who will immediately make you care about the sport. Fast, aggressive, and strategic, she’s one to watch if you love high speed chaos with a medal worthy payoff.
Kim Meylemans
Belgium | Skeleton
Skeleton is one of the most intense sports to watch, and Kim Meylemans does it with remarkable calm and control. She’s openly bisexual and has spoken candidly about mental health, pressure, and resilience. There’s something especially compelling about watching an athlete face down fear at that level, and Kim does it again and again.
Nicole Silveira
Brazil | Skeleton
Nicole Silveira is not only a top skeleton racer representing Brazil, she’s also part of one of the most iconic queer stories of these Games. She brings speed, precision, and visibility to a sport that doesn’t get nearly enough attention, and watching her compete feels even sweeter knowing she’s doing it alongside her wife.
Hilary Knight
USA | Forward
Hilary Knight is one of the most recognizable faces of these Games, thanks in part to her strong social presence. She’s a veteran leader, a powerhouse on the ice, and a longtime out athlete who has helped normalize LGBTQ visibility in elite hockey. Her behind the scenes content, team moments, and sheer competitive fire make her one of the most fun follows during the Olympics.
Alex Carpenter
USA | Forward
Alex Carpenter brings calm confidence and clutch performance to Team USA. She’s openly queer and has been part of making LGBTQ representation feel normal and expected in women’s hockey. She’s the kind of athlete who shows up exactly when you need her to.
Cayla Barnes
USA | Defense
Cayla Barnes represents the next generation of hockey stars. She plays a strong, steady defensive game and carries herself with confidence both on and off the ice. Her presence reflects how far visibility in women’s hockey has come, and where it’s going.
Aneta Lédlová
Czech Republic | Forward
Aneta Lédlová brings international representation and openly lesbian visibility to women’s hockey. Competing for the Czech Republic, she adds depth and diversity to the LGBTQ presence at the Games.
Krýstina Kaltounková
Czech Republic | Forward
Krýstina Kaltounková is another Czech player to watch, offering speed, skill, and openly lesbian representation in a growing hockey program. She was also the first pick in this year’s PWHL draft and is playing in New York for the Sirens.
Lara Wolf
Austria | Freestyle Skiing
Lara Wolf is an Austrian freestyle skier heading into her third Winter Games, having previously competed in 2018 and 2022. A veteran of the Olympic stage, she brings experience, confidence, and consistency to a sport that demands precision and fearlessness.
Maddy Schaffrick
USA | Snowboarding Halfpipe
Maddy Schaffrick is a U.S. snowboarder competing in the halfpipe and one of the most compelling comeback stories heading into the 2026 Games. After facing setbacks earlier in her career, her return to Olympic competition is a testament to resilience, persistence, and belief in her own ability.
Queer Power Couple Moment
One of the most joyful storylines of these Games is watching Kim Meylemans and Nicole Silveira compete in the same sport at the same Olympics as wives. Skeleton is already intense. Adding a real life love story to the mix makes it even more compelling. While the rest of us are nervously watching split times and finishes, they’re out here representing their countries and their community at the highest level together. It’s iconic. It’s tender. And it’s exactly the kind of representation that makes these Games feel personal.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a sport thats wildly gay, womens hockey is the sport to turn on. Its no suprise that many of the faces from our Out Athletes in the PWHL are also showing up here with more 10+ LGBTQ athletes competing.
Why This Matters
These athletes are incredible because of their talent, discipline, and years of dedication. That comes first. But as LGBTQ viewers, seeing people who share our identities competing at the highest level hits differently. Watching them train, joke with teammates, share Olympic Village moments, and then step into competition makes the Olympics feel less distant and more communal.
So yes, we’ll be yelling about medals and finishes. But we’ll also be cheering a little louder, feeling a little prouder, and following along a little more closely.
Because these LGBTQ Olympians aren’t just part of the Games. They’re part of why we can’t wait to watch.
