Dreams come true, and Quinn made it possible today to become the first trans football player to win a medal at Tokyo 2020.
Quinn, a midfielder for Canada, is the first ever openly transgender athlete to not only win gold, but to medal at all in the Olympic Games.
The Canadian women’s soccer team took home the gold on Friday, beating out Sweden and earning the top spot for the first time in their Olympics history.
Highlights of Tokyo 2020 today
- ITA win men’s 4x100m relay
- JAM win women’s 4x100m relay
- Liu (CHN) wins women’s javelin throw
- Garnbret (SLO) wins women’s combined sport climbing gold
- Kipyegon (KEN) defends women’s 1500m title
- Karate: Luigi Busa (ITA) wins men’s kumite -75kg gold
- Karate: Jovana Prekovic (SRB) wins women’s kumite -61kg gold
- Miller-Uibo (BAH) wins women’s 400m
- CHN win men’s team table tennis gold
Quinn a monumental feat at Tokyo 2020
In his Instagram post, the footballer wrote: First openly trans Olympian to compete.
I don’t know how to feel.
I feel proud seeing “ Quinn” upon the lineup and on my accreditation.
I feel sad knowing there were Olympians before me unable to live their truth because of the world.
I feel optimistic for change. Change in legislature. Changes in rules, structures, and mindsets.
Mostly, I feel aware of the realities. Trans girls being banned from sports. Trans women facing discrimination and bias while trying to pursue their olympic dreams. The fight isn’t close to over… and I’ll celebrate when we’re all here.
The non-binary Quinn has been a professional footballer since 2018, plying their trade in countries such as Sweden, The United States and France. The 25-year-old OL Reign’s star has also been a constant fixture in the national team since their debut in 2014.
They were a key part of Canada’s gold medal run in the Tokyo Olympics. Quinn announced that they were transgender in 2020, admitting that it was a difficult moment to muster the courage to publically make the announcement.