Team LGBTQ is currently outperforming Team USA in the medal standings at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, according to a report from Outsports, a website dedicated to LGBTQ+ sports coverage. As of now, Team LGBTQ has secured three gold medals, placing them third overall in the early stages of the Games. The team comprises 47 openly LGBTQ+ athletes, making it the 19th largest contingent participating in the event.
Leading the medal table are Norway and Switzerland, both of which have also claimed three gold medals. However, they are positioned higher due to a greater number of silver and bronze medals. In contrast, Team USA has achieved two gold medals from a total of 233 athletes competing in Milan, indicating that the standings may shift as the Games progress.
Notable Achievements by LGBTQ Athletes
Among the standout performances for Team LGBTQ is Breezy Johnson, a World Cup alpine ski racer from Wyoming. Johnson won gold in the women’s downhill skiing event, marking her first Olympic title. She publicly came out as bisexual in July 2022, stating on Instagram, “To those 🏳️🌈 people out there who feel a little different… I am here to represent that we are out there, we are normal, and we can do whatever we want.”
Another key member of Team LGBTQ is Amber Glenn, a figure skater who contributed to Team USA’s gold medal in the figure skating team event. Glenn made history as the first openly queer woman to represent the United States in Olympic singles figure skating. She came out as pansexual in 2019 and has spoken openly about the struggles of acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community. “Being perceived as ‘just a phase’ or ‘indecisive’ is a common thing for bisexual/pansexual women,” she remarked to Dallas Voice.
Community and Representation in the Olympics
The presence of LGBTQ+ athletes at the Olympics highlights the ongoing fight for representation and acceptance in sports. Glenn previously addressed the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community during the Trump administration, emphasizing the importance of using her platform to encourage resilience among marginalized groups. “I hope that I can use my platform and my voice throughout these Games to try to encourage people to stay strong,” she stated.
In addition to Johnson and Glenn, Mathilde Gremaud, representing Switzerland, earned gold in the women’s freeski slopestyle event. Gremaud’s victory came after a closely contested match against U.S.-born athlete Eileen Gu. Following her win, Gremaud celebrated with her girlfriend, elite mountain biker Vali Höll, who shared a photo of them together on Instagram, expressing her pride in Gremaud’s achievement.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue, the performance of Team LGBTQ serves as an inspiring testament to the strength and spirit of the LGBTQ+ community in sports. Newsweek has reached out to Johnson, Glenn, and Gremaud for further comments on their experiences and achievements during the Games.
