Gay Austrian wins silver in ski jumping

Iraschko-Stolz now says she hopes her presence will help gay rights in Russia

A second LGBT Olympian has taken the podium at Sochi.

Openly gay Austrian ski jumper Daniela Iraschko-Stolz took silver in her event on Feb 11. She flew farther on the final round than her competitor but was awarded a silver medal on points once wind speeds had been factored into the scores.

Iraschko-Stolz is openly gay and married. She made news at the opening of the Games when she said that the problems for gay athletes in Sochi had been “blown up bigger than it is.”

After winning her silver medal, however, she clarified that she still hopes her presence will bring attention to gay rights in Russia.

“I hope for the future that the people now can see the sport as a chance to change something. That would be nice. Because everyone looks at Russia and its laws, and I think it’s a good idea to change something,” she said, according to the New Civil Rights Movement.

Openly bisexual speed skater Ireen Wüst was the first LGBT athlete of the Games to reach the podium, when she won gold in the 3,000-metre event on Feb 9.

Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

Read More About:
Activism, Culture, Power, News, Sports

Keep Reading

In ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt,’ Brontez Purnell balances on a knife edge between hilarity and despair

Purnell's new memoir turns heaviness into humour, and exposes the bleakness under what seems silly and light

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16, Episode 12 power ranking: Designing women

Who among our top five will fall short of the finale?

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16, Episode 12 recap: Bathroom babes

The infamous room design challenge returns, this time with … restrooms?

Bollywood flair quickens the tender heart of ‘The Queen of My Dreams’

Filmmaker Fawzia Mirza discusses her feature debut and how the intergenerational drama echoes much of her own life