This story was reported for NBC10 Boston
The Olympics are all about countries from every corner of the world representing themselves with their best athletes — and now, another kind of of representation is on the rise.
Team LGBTQ.
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics has the most ever out athletes competing at the Winter Games, according to Outsports, which has a Team LGBTQ database tracking out athletes.
The total count has reached 48, including all of the competing countries, according to the website. Compare that to seven in 2014.
Cyd Zeigler, cofounder of the news outlet, celebrated the milestone during an interview with NBC10 Boston.
“Growing up on Cape Cod as a gay athlete running cross country, I could not have imagined that there would be this massive amount of out athletes at the Olympics,” Zeigler said. “I think about the kids growing up today and having these examples of out athletes, gay, lesbian, bisexual — it is really special to us at Outsports.”
Eight of the athletes on Team LGBTQ are from the United States. That includes Alex Carpenter of North Reading, Massachusetts — number 25 on the women’s ice hockey team. She’s a Boston College alum, and crushing it on Team USA.
There’s Amber Glenn, too, who’s been making headlines for her figure skating and for using her platform to elevate her activism. Glenn has been dealing with threats since a news conference where she stated the queer community has had a “hard time” during the climate under President Donald Trump.
“There are idiots everywhere, and the internet elevates idiots,” Zeigler said of the threats toward Glenn. “You’ve got to just move on. It’s a small minority. Most people embrace athletes for their excellence.”
Zeigler said that acceptance is especially true among fellow athletes, something he finds particularly encouraging.
“Authenticity brings out the best in athletes,” Zeigler said. “Gay athletes are widely accepted and it’s one of the misunderstandings about sports. Even in men’s sports, out athletes are widely accepted.”
During the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, there were at least 199 out athletes competing, according to Outsports.