How many LGBT Olympians are there?

With the Gay Games starting next week, and five-time Olympic Champion Ian Thorpe coming out in an interview, we were curious how many LGBT Olympians there are.  While about 2-3% of people identify themselves as homosexual (per this study), Olympic athletes who have are publicly declared this – either before or after their Olympic career – are much rarer than that.

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With over 10,000 athletes competing at the Summer Olympics every four years, one could expect around 250 athletes to be lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT), assuming the figures of the general population also hold for Olympic athletes.  However, at this point we have only identified 170 LGBT Olympians in total competing since 1896.

Approach

Of course, we are quite certain this number is wrong. Unlike, for example, birth dates or an athlete’s height, sexual preferences are not recorded for any of the competitors. That means that for our figures, we are dependent on athletes publicly “coming out” about their sexuality. And of course, many LGBT athletes will not come out in public, for various good reasons. First of all, disclosing information about your personal life is something many people avoid, homosexual or not.  Furthermore, many athletes compete as youngsters, who may still be discovering their sexuality, or may focus on their sport as they train to achieve their Olympic goals. 

On a darker note, many LGBT athletes may decide to keep their sexual orientation a secret. In many countries, homosexuality is still taboo – or even considered a criminal offense. Even if it has been accepted by the general public, the athlete in question may not feel comfortable coming out to their families or friends. And, finally, the sports world does have a reputation for being “anti-gay”. Especially in male-dominated sports, competitors may be afraid for homophobia or awkward situations in the locker room. Fortunately, this is slowly changing, as evidenced by coming-outs in male sports like basketball, rugby and football (both kinds).

So, how did we compose our list? We’ve used two main sources for this:

Our criteria for inclusion are simple:

  • The athlete needs to have actually competed in the Olympics (excluding alternates, non-starters and Paralympians)
  • Given the sensitivity of the topic, there needs to be clear evidence the athlete was LGBT, such as an interview with the athlete, a known partner, etc.

A number of athletes from the above sources have been excluded for not meeting one of the two inclusion criteria, notably several athletes who were often rumored to be gay without any form of confirmation. Of course, we have almost certainly made errors here (either by including or excluding people), and we apologize upfront for those.

Analysis

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The first known LGBT Olympian, who competed in the 1928 Olympics, was German track athlete Otto Peltzer,  later convicted for homosexual acts on several occasions. Since then, the numbers have gradually risen, with 47 known LGBT competitors at the Sydney 2000 Olympics as the highest number to date. Do note that the numbers for more recent Olympics are most likely to rise, as many athletes – like Thorpe – still come out after their competitive career.

Number of LGBT Summer Olympians
Number of LGBT Summer Olympians

The rise in LGBT participation started in the 1980s, which coincides with the organization of the first Gay Games. Initiated by Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell, the Gay Games were founded as the Gay Olympic Games, but the USOC, in protection of the “Olympic” trademark, forced Waddell to change the name shortly before the first edition in 1982, held in San Francisco. The 9th edition is due to open on August 9, in Cleveland, with an estimated 10,000 athletes competing. Waddell, who himself won a gold medal at the 1986 Gay Games, sadly died of AIDS in 1987.

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The first LGBT Winter Olympian was U.S. figure skater Ronnie Robertson, known for his relationship with actor Tab Hunter. Like at the Summer Olympics, the number has steadily risen, with a peak of 14 in 2006 and 2010.

Number of LGBT Winter Olympians
Number of LGBT Winter Olympians

One finding worth noting is that almost two thirds of the known LGBT Olympians are women (110 out of 170), which is remarkable given the fact that more men than women compete in the Olympics (certainly historically speaking). We do not know why this is. Homosexuality might be more accepted among women (or women athletes) then among men. Or maybe the stereotypical, more masculine, lesbian woman is more likely to to be drawn to sports than the stereotypical more feminine gay man? Or perhaps our sources were more likely to include lesbian athletes?

So, which sports have drawn the most LGBT athletes? Perhaps surprisingly, this is football (that’s soccer to you Americans) with 23 – of which only two men. Two major participant sports, athletics and swimming both have 14 LGBT athletes, while figure skating (perhaps not a surprise) is the most popular winter sport with 13.

It may not be a shock to anybody that virtually all of the LGBT competitors come from Western Europe, North America or Oceania. With 41, the US has the most known LGBT competitors, which is in line with the fact that the United States have by far the largest collection of Olympians within its borders (9000+). Canada has 19, followed by Germany and Netherlands (both 16). Outside of the earlier mentioned zones, there are three Brazilians, one Dominican, one Israeli, a Puerto Rican, five South Africans and a Tongan.

Olympic Successes

Out of the 170 LGBT athletes, 43 have won one or more gold medals. Most successful is the earlier mentioned Ian Thorpe, who claimed five golds, three silvers and a bronze. He is followed by Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst, who has almost the same tally, but with 4 golds. Famed US diver Greg Louganis also earned four golds, as did Canadian hockey player Jayna Hefford. In total, 93 of the 170 athletes on our list have medaled at least once.

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Transgender/Intersexual athletes

A small group of athletes deserves special mention here. These are athletes that were either born with both male and female characteristics (intersexual) or who chose to change their gender through surgery (transgender).

High jumper Dora Ratjen, an intersexual, was (incorrectly) exposed as a man and stripped of her titles. Contemporary sprinter Stanisława Walasiewicz was shot by muggers, revealing her intersexual characteristics decades after her athletic successes. She had coached fellow Polish sprinter Ewa Kłobukowska, who in 1966 failed the then new “sex test”. These tests were always controversial (later editions of the test would have accepted Kłobukowska, for example), and were eventually abolished. This paved the way for Brazilian judoka Edinanci da Silva to compete in women’s judo at four consecutive Olympics.

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Sydney 2000 participant Yvonne Buschbaum is the only transgender Olympian known thusfar. After her participation, the pole vaulter underwent surgery, and is now known as Balian Buschbaum.

The full list

Below is a year-by-year list of competitors, starting in 1928 and ending in 2014. As noted before, we do apologize for any incorrect information in this table – please leave a comment if you have a correction. We have tried to be very careful to be certain the athletes are out, as we do not wish to cause any problems for athletes related to their sexuality, and fully respect their privacy.

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[table]
Athlete,Gender,NOC,Sport,Year,Season,Gold,Silver,Bronze
Otto Peltzer,M,GER,ATH,1928,S,,,
Otto Peltzer,M,GER,ATH,1932,S,,,
Stanisława Walasiewicz,F,POL,ATH,1932,S,1,,
Dora Ratjen,F,GER,ATH,1936,S,,,
Stanisława Walasiewicz,F,POL,ATH,1936,S,,1,
Ernst Van Heerden,M,RSA,ART,1948,S,,1,
Kin Hoitsma,M,USA,FEN,1956,S,,,
Susan Gray,F,USA,SWI,1956,S,,,
Ronnie Robertson,M,USA,FSK,1956,W,,1,
Norman Elder,M,CAN,EQU,1960,S,,,
Ewa Kłobukowska,F,POL,ATH,1964,S,1,,1
Marion Lay,F,CAN,SWI,1964,S,,,
Ondrej Nepela,M,TCH,FSK,1964,W,,,
Tom Waddell,M,USA,ATH,1968,S,,,
Norman Elder,M,CAN,EQU,1968,S,,,
Karin Janz,F,GDR,GYM,1968,S,,1,1
Marion Lay,F,CAN,SWI,1968,S,,,1
Ondrej Nepela,M,TCH,FSK,1968,W,,,
Scott Cranham,M,CAN,DIV,1972,S,,,
Karin Janz,F,GDR,GYM,1972,S,2,2,1
Peter Prijdekker,M,NED,SWI,1972,S,,,
Mark Chatfield,M,USA,SWI,1972,S,,,
Toller Cranston,M,CAN,FSK,1972,W,,,
John Curry,M,GBR,FSK,1972,W,,,
Ondrej Nepela,M,TCH,FSK,1972,W,1,,
Gail Marquis,F,USA,BAS,1976,S,,1,
Scott Cranham,M,CAN,DIV,1976,S,,,
Greg Louganis,M,USA,DIV,1976,S,,1,
Olivier Rouyer,M,FRA,FTB,1976,S,,,
Betty Baxter,F,CAN,VOL,1976,S,,,
Toller Cranston,M,CAN,FSK,1976,W,,,1
John Curry,M,GBR,FSK,1976,W,1,,
Randy Gardner,M,USA,FSK,1976,W,,,
Brian Pockar,M,CAN,FSK,1980,W,,,
Sabine Braun,F,FRG,ATH,1984,S,,,
Beate Peters,F,FRG,ATH,1984,S,,,
Greg Louganis,M,USA,DIV,1984,S,2,,
Robert Dover,M,USA,EQU,1984,S,,,
Holly Metcalf,F,USA,ROW,1984,S,1,,
Bruce Hayes,M,USA,SWI,1984,S,1,,
Rob McCall,M,CAN,FSK,1984,W,,,
Brian Orser,M,CAN,FSK,1984,W,,1,
Brian Boitano,M,USA,FSK,1984,W,,,
Edel Therese Høiseth,F,NOR,SSK,1984,W,,,
Brian Marshall,M,CAN,ATH,1988,S,,,
Sabine Braun,F,FRG,ATH,1988,S,,,
Beate Peters,F,FRG,ATH,1988,S,,,
Petra Rossner,F,GDR,CYC,1988,S,,,
Craig Rogerson,M,AUS,DIV,1988,S,,,
Patrick Jeffrey,M,USA,DIV,1988,S,,,
Greg Louganis,M,USA,DIV,1988,S,2,,
Robert Dover,M,USA,EQU,1988,S,,,
Sherry Cassuto,F,USA,ROW,1988,S,,,
Mark Tewksbury,M,CAN,SWI,1988,S,,1,
Dan Veatch,M,USA,SWI,1988,S,,,
Tine Scheuer-Larsen,F,DEN,TEN,1988,S,,,
Rob McCall,M,CAN,FSK,1988,W,,,1
Brian Orser,M,CAN,FSK,1988,W,,1,
Brian Boitano,M,USA,FSK,1988,W,1,,
Edel Therese Høiseth,F,NOR,SSK,1988,W,,,
Sabine Braun,F,GER,ATH,1992,S,,,1
Mark Leduc,M,CAN,BOX,1992,S,,1,
Petra Rossner,F,GER,CYC,1992,S,1,,
Craig Rogerson,M,AUS,DIV,1992,S,,,
Carl Hester,M,GBR,EQU,1992,S,,,
Blyth Tait,M,NZL,EQU,1992,S,,1,1
Robert Dover,M,USA,EQU,1992,S,,,1
Alyson Annan,F,AUS,HOK,1992,S,,,
Carole Thate,F,NED,HOK,1992,S,,,
Irene de Kok,F,NED,JUD,1992,S,,,1
Mark Tewksbury,M,CAN,SWI,1992,S,1,,1
Conchita Martínez,F,ESP,TEN,1992,S,,1,
Gigi Fernandez,F,USA,TEN,1992,S,1,,
Joan Guetschow,F,USA,BIA,1992,W,,,
Edel Therese Høiseth,F,NOR,SSK,1992,W,,,
Geert Blanchart,M,BEL,STK,1992,W,,,
Joan Guetschow,F,USA,BIA,1994,W,,,
Brian Boitano,M,USA,FSK,1994,W,,,
Edel Therese Høiseth,F,NOR,SSK,1994,W,,,
Chris Witty,F,USA,SSK,1994,W,,,
Geert Blanchart,M,BEL,STK,1994,W,,,
Lisa-Marie Vizaniari,F,AUS,ATH,1996,S,,,
Sabine Braun,F,GER,ATH,1996,S,,,
Kajsa Bergqvist,F,SWE,ATH,1996,S,,,
Sheryl Swoopes,F,USA,BAS,1996,S,1,,
Natalie Cook,F,AUS,BVO,1996,S,,,1
Michelle Ferris,F,AUS,CYC,1996,S,,1,
Graeme Obree,M,GBR,CYC,1996,S,,,
Judith Arndt,F,GER,CYC,1996,S,,,1
Patrick Jeffrey,M,USA,DIV,1996,S,,,
David Pichler,M,USA,DIV,1996,S,,,
Blyth Tait,M,NZL,EQU,1996,S,1,,1
Robert Dover,M,USA,EQU,1996,S,,,1
Guenter Seidel,M,USA,EQU,1996,S,,,1
Linda Medalen,F,NOR,FTB,1996,S,,,1
Bente Nordby,F,NOR,FTB,1996,S,,,1
Pia Sundhage,F,SWE,FTB,1996,S,,,
Lena Videkull,F,SWE,FTB,1996,S,,,
Kris Burley,M,CAN,GYM,1996,S,,,
Camilla Andersen,F,DEN,HAN,1996,S,1,,
Alyson Annan,F,AUS,HOK,1996,S,1,,
Carole Thate,F,NED,HOK,1996,S,,,1
Edinanci da Silva,F,BRA,JUD,1996,S,,,
Daniel Kowalski,M,AUS,SWI,1996,S,,1,2
Rennae Stubbs,F,AUS,TEN,1996,S,,,
Conchita Martínez,F,ESP,TEN,1996,S,,,1
Gigi Fernandez,F,USA,TEN,1996,S,1,,
Nancy Drolet,F,CAN,ICH,1998,W,,1,
Jayna Hefford,F,CAN,ICH,1998,W,,1,
Erika Holst,F,SWE,ICH,1998,W,,,
Ylva Lindberg,F,SWE,ICH,1998,W,,,
Stine Brun Kjeldaas,F,NOR,SNB,1998,W,,1,
Marieke Wijsman,F,NED,SSK,1998,W,,,
Edel Therese Høiseth,F,NOR,SSK,1998,W,,,
Chris Witty,F,USA,SSK,1998,W,,1,1
Lisa-Marie Vizaniari,F,AUS,ATH,2000,S,,,
Sabine Braun,F,GER,ATH,2000,S,,,
Yvonne Buschbaum,F,GER,ATH,2000,S,,,
Kajsa Bergqvist,F,SWE,ATH,2000,S,,,1
Peter Häggström,M,SWE,ATH,2000,S,,,
Sheryl Swoopes,F,USA,BAS,2000,S,1,,
Orlando Cruz,M,PUR,BOX,2000,S,,,
Natalie Cook,F,AUS,BVO,2000,S,1,,
Michelle Ferris,F,AUS,CYC,2000,S,,1,
Judith Arndt,F,GER,CYC,2000,S,,,
Petra Rossner,F,GER,CYC,2000,S,,,
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg,F,GER,CYC,2000,S,,,
Chris Witty,F,USA,CYC,2000,S,,,
Mathew Helm,M,AUS,DIV,2000,S,,,
David Pichler,M,USA,DIV,2000,S,,,
Carl Hester,M,GBR,EQU,2000,S,,,
Arjen Teeuwissen,M,NED,EQU,2000,S,,1,
Blyth Tait,M,NZL,EQU,2000,S,,,
Paul O’Brien,M,NZL,EQU,2000,S,,,
Robert Dover,M,USA,EQU,2000,S,,,1
Guenter Seidel,M,USA,EQU,2000,S,,,1
Robert Costello,M,USA,EQU,2000,S,,,
Imke Duplitzer,F,GER,FEN,2000,S,,,
Inka Grings,F,GER,FTB,2000,S,,,1
Steffi Jones,F,GER,FTB,2000,S,,,1
Bente Nordby,F,NOR,FTB,2000,S,1,,
Victoria Svensson,F,SWE,FTB,2000,S,,,
Camilla Andersen,F,DEN,HAN,2000,S,1,,
Lotte Kiærskou,F,DEN,HAN,2000,S,1,,
Mia Hundvin,F,NOR,HAN,2000,S,,,1
Alyson Annan,F,AUS,HOK,2000,S,1,,
Helen Richardson,F,GBR,HOK,2000,S,,,
Kate Walsh,F,GBR,HOK,2000,S,,,
Carole Thate,F,NED,HOK,2000,S,,,1
Marilyn Agliotti,F,RSA,HOK,2000,S,,,
Edinanci da Silva,F,BRA,JUD,2000,S,,,
Lauren Meece,F,USA,JUD,2000,S,,,
Daniel Kowalski,M,AUS,SWI,2000,S,1,,
Ian Thorpe,M,AUS,SWI,2000,S,3,2,
Francilla Agar,F,DMA,SWI,2000,S,,,
Johan Kenkhuis,M,NED,SWI,2000,S,,,1
Rennae Stubbs,F,AUS,TEN,2000,S,,,
Conchita Martínez,F,ESP,TEN,2000,S,,,
Amélie Mauresmo,F,FRA,TEN,2000,S,,,
Eleni Daniilidou,F,GRE,TEN,2000,S,,,
Ji Wallace,M,AUS,TMP,2000,S,,1,
Stacy Sykora,F,USA,VOL,2000,S,,,
Anja Pärson,F,SWE,ASK,2002,W,,1,1
Vibeke Skofterud,F,NOR,CCS,2002,W,,,
Jayna Hefford,F,CAN,ICH,2002,W,1,,
Erika Holst,F,SWE,ICH,2002,W,,,1
Ylva Lindberg,F,SWE,ICH,2002,W,,,1
Stine Brun Kjeldaas,F,NOR,SNB,2002,W,,,
Marieke Wijsman,F,NED,SSK,2002,W,,,
Chris Witty,F,USA,SSK,2002,W,1,,
Rob Newton,M,GBR,ATH,2004,S,,,
Sheryl Swoopes,F,USA,BAS,2004,S,1,,
Natalie Cook,F,AUS,BVO,2004,S,,,
Leigh-Ann Naidoo,F,RSA,BVO,2004,S,,,
Judith Arndt,F,GER,CYC,2004,S,,1,
Mathew Helm,M,AUS,DIV,2004,S,,1,1
Carl Hester,M,GBR,EQU,2004,S,,,
Blyth Tait,M,NZL,EQU,2004,S,,,
Robert Dover,M,USA,EQU,2004,S,,,1
Guenter Seidel,M,USA,EQU,2004,S,,,1
Darren Chiacchia,M,USA,EQU,2004,S,,,1
Imke Duplitzer,F,GER,FEN,2004,S,,1,
Sarah Walsh,F,AUS,FTB,2004,S,,,
Steffi Jones,F,GER,FTB,2004,S,,,1
Victoria Svensson,F,SWE,FTB,2004,S,,,
Abby Wambach,F,USA,FTB,2004,S,1,,
Angela Hucles,F,USA,FTB,2004,S,1,,
Lotte Kiærskou,F,DEN,HAN,2004,S,1,,
Rikke Skov,F,DEN,HAN,2004,S,1,,
Chantal de Bruijn,F,NED,HOK,2004,S,,1,
Edinanci da Silva,F,BRA,JUD,2004,S,,,
Ian Thorpe,M,AUS,SWI,2004,S,2,1,1
Dominik Koll,M,AUT,SWI,2004,S,,,
Johan Kenkhuis,M,NED,SWI,2004,S,,1,
Rennae Stubbs,F,AUS,TEN,2004,S,,,
Conchita Martínez,F,ESP,TEN,2004,S,,1,
Amélie Mauresmo,F,FRA,TEN,2004,S,,1,
Eleni Daniilidou,F,GRE,TEN,2004,S,,,
Lisa Raymond,F,USA,TEN,2004,S,,,
Martina Navratilova,F,USA,TEN,2004,S,,,
Stacy Sykora,F,USA,VOL,2004,S,,,
Anja Pärson,F,SWE,ASK,2006,W,1,,2
Jeff Buttle,M,CAN,FSK,2006,W,,,1
Johnny Weir,M,USA,FSK,2006,W,,,
Matt Savoie,M,USA,FSK,2006,W,,,
Ryan O’Meara,M,USA,FSK,2006,W,,,
Jayna Hefford,F,CAN,ICH,2006,W,1,,
Charlie Labonté,F,CAN,ICH,2006,W,1,,
Erika Holst,F,SWE,ICH,2006,W,,1,
Ylva Lindberg,F,SWE,ICH,2006,W,,1,
Kathleen Kauth,F,USA,ICH,2006,W,,,1
Caitlin Cahow,F,USA,ICH,2006,W,,,1
Cheryl Maas,F,NED,SNB,2006,W,,,
Ireen Wüst,F,NED,SSK,2006,W,1,,1
Chris Witty,F,USA,SSK,2006,W,,,
Seimone Augustus,F,USA,BAS,2008,S,1,,
Natalie Cook,F,AUS,BVO,2008,S,,,
Larissa,F,BRA,BVO,2008,S,,,
Judith Arndt,F,GER,CYC,2008,S,,,
Mathew Helm,M,AUS,DIV,2008,S,,,
Matt Mitcham,M,AUS,DIV,2008,S,1,,
Tom Daley,M,GBR,DIV,2008,S,,,
Hans Peter Minderhoud,M,NED,EQU,2008,S,,1,
Imke Duplitzer,F,GER,FEN,2008,S,,,
Nadine Angerer,F,GER,FTB,2008,S,,,1
Linda Bresonik,F,GER,FTB,2008,S,,,1
Isabell Herlovsen,F,NOR,FTB,2008,S,,,
Victoria Svensson,F,SWE,FTB,2008,S,,,
Hedvig Lindahl,F,SWE,FTB,2008,S,,,
Caroline Seger,F,SWE,FTB,2008,S,,,
Nilla Fischer,F,SWE,FTB,2008,S,,,
Jessica Landström,F,SWE,FTB,2008,S,,,
Robbie Rogers,M,USA,FTB,2008,S,,,
Angela Hucles,F,USA,FTB,2008,S,1,,
Tasha Kai,F,USA,FTB,2008,S,1,,
Alexandra Lacrabère,F,FRA,HAN,2008,S,,,
Nina Wörz,F,GER,HAN,2008,S,,,
Katja Nyberg,F,NOR,HAN,2008,S,1,,
Gro Hammerseng,F,NOR,HAN,2008,S,1,,
Helen Richardson,F,GBR,HOK,2008,S,,,
Kate Walsh,F,GBR,HOK,2008,S,,,
Beth Storry,F,GBR,HOK,2008,S,,,
Marilyn Agliotti,F,NED,HOK,2008,S,1,,
Maartje Paumen,F,NED,HOK,2008,S,1,,
Edinanci da Silva,F,BRA,JUD,2008,S,,,
Vicky Galindo,F,USA,SOF,2008,S,,1,
Lauren Lappin,F,USA,SOF,2008,S,,1,
Dominik Koll,M,AUT,SWI,2008,S,,,
Rennae Stubbs,F,AUS,TEN,2008,S,,,
Casey Dellacqua,F,AUS,TEN,2008,S,,,
Eleni Daniilidou,F,GRE,TEN,2008,S,,,
Tzipora Obziler,F,ISR,TEN,2008,S,,,
Jess Harrison,F,FRA,TRI,2008,S,,,
Carole Péon,F,FRA,TRI,2008,S,,,
Stacy Sykora,F,USA,VOL,2008,S,,1,
Anja Pärson,F,SWE,ASK,2010,W,,,1
Vibeke Skofterud,F,NOR,CCS,2010,W,1,,
Barbara Jezeršek,F,SLO,CCS,2010,W,,,
Johnny Weir,M,USA,FSK,2010,W,,,
Jayna Hefford,F,CAN,ICH,2010,W,1,,
Sarah Vaillancourt,F,CAN,ICH,2010,W,1,,
Charlie Labonté,F,CAN,ICH,2010,W,1,,
Erika Holst,F,SWE,ICH,2010,W,,,
Caitlin Cahow,F,USA,ICH,2010,W,,1,
Callan Chythlook-Sifsof,F,USA,SNB,2010,W,,,
Anastasia Bucsis,F,CAN,SSK,2010,W,,,
Ireen Wüst,F,NED,SSK,2010,W,1,,
Sanne van Kerkhof,F,NED,STK,2010,W,,,
Blake Skjellerup,M,NZL,STK,2010,W,,,
Karen Hultzer,F,RSA,ARC,2012,S,,,
Nadine Müller,F,GER,ATH,2012,S,,,
Seimone Augustus,F,USA,BAS,2012,S,1,,
Nicola Adams,F,GBR,BOX,2012,S,1,,
Natalie Cook,F,AUS,BVO,2012,S,,,
Larissa,F,BRA,BVO,2012,S,,,1
Judith Arndt,F,GER,CYC,2012,S,,1,
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg,F,GER,CYC,2012,S,,,
Matt Mitcham,M,AUS,DIV,2012,S,,,
Tom Daley,M,GBR,DIV,2012,S,,,1
Carl Hester,M,GBR,EQU,2012,S,1,,
Edward Gal,M,NED,EQU,2012,S,,,1
Imke Duplitzer,F,GER,FEN,2012,S,,,
Casey Stoney,F,GBR,FTB,2012,S,,,
Portia Modise,F,RSA,FTB,2012,S,,,
Hedvig Lindahl,F,SWE,FTB,2012,S,,,
Caroline Seger,F,SWE,FTB,2012,S,,,
Nilla Fischer,F,SWE,FTB,2012,S,,,
Abby Wambach,F,USA,FTB,2012,S,1,,
Megan Rapinoe,F,USA,FTB,2012,S,1,,
Mayssa Pessoa,F,BRA,HAN,2012,S,,,
Rikke Skov,F,DEN,HAN,2012,S,,,
Alexandra Lacrabère,F,FRA,HAN,2012,S,,,
Helen Richardson,F,GBR,HOK,2012,S,,,1
Kate Walsh,F,GBR,HOK,2012,S,,,1
Beth Storry,F,GBR,HOK,2012,S,,,1
Marilyn Agliotti,F,NED,HOK,2012,S,1,,
Maartje Paumen,F,NED,HOK,2012,S,1,,
Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel,F,NED,HOK,2012,S,1,,
Kim Lammers,F,NED,HOK,2012,S,1,,
Ari-Pekka Liukkonen,M,FIN,SWI,2012,S,,,
Amini Fonua,M,TGA,SWI,2012,S,,,
Casey Dellacqua,F,AUS,TEN,2012,S,,,
Lisa Raymond,F,USA,TEN,2012,S,,,1
Jess Harrison,F,FRA,TRI,2012,S,,,
Carole Péon,F,FRA,TRI,2012,S,,,
Barbara Jezeršek,F,SLO,CCS,2014,W,,,
Jayna Hefford,F,CAN,ICH,2014,W,1,,
Sarah Vaillancourt,F,CAN,ICH,2014,W,1,,
Charlie Labonté,F,CAN,ICH,2014,W,1,,
John Fennell,M,CAN,LUG,2014,W,,,
Daniela Iraschko-Stolz,F,AUT,SKJ,2014,W,,1,
Belle Brockhoff,F,AUS,SNB,2014,W,,,
Cheryl Maas,F,NED,SNB,2014,W,,,
Anastasia Bucsis,F,CAN,SSK,2014,W,,,
Ireen Wüst,F,NED,SSK,2014,W,2,3,
Sanne van Kerkhof,F,NED,STK,2014,W,,,
[/table]

The Blitz Family

Swimmers, Water Poloists, Resistance Fighters, Yogis, Club Med

[table]

Category,Data

Full Name,Gérard Blitz Jr.

Used Name,Gérard Blitz

Born,1 August 1901; Amsterdam (NED)

Died,8 March 1979; Ganshoren (BEL)

[/table]

[table]

Year,Sport,Event,Finish,Medal

1920,Swimming,100 m free,7 h4 r1/4,

,,4×200 m free relay,3 h2 r1/2,

,,100 m back,3,Bronze,

,Water Polo,,2,Silver

1924,Swimming,100 m backstroke,4,

,Water Polo,,2,Silver

1928,Swimming,4×200 m free relay,5 h2 r1/2,

,,100 m backstroke,2 h3 r1/3

,Water Polo,,=5

1936,Water Polo,,3,Bronze

[/table]

[table]

Category,Data

Full Name,Maurice Jean Blitz

Used Name,Maurice Blitz

Born,28 July 1891; Paris (FRA)

Died,2 February 1975

[/table]

[table]

Year,Sport,Finish,Medal

1920,Water Polo,2,Silver

1924,Water Polo,2,Silver

[/table]

Gérard Blitz competed at four Olympics Games as a swimmer and water polo player, appearing four times in water polo and three times in swimming. Blitz won four Olympic medals, three in water polo in 1920, 1924, and 1936, and adding a bronze in the 1920 100 metre backstroke swimming. In 1921 Blitz set a world record of 5:59.2 for the 400 metre backstroke, a mark which lasted until 1927. A Jewish athlete, he was one of the few Jews to win a medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Gérard Blitz was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1990.

Blitz’s older brother, Maurice Blitz, competed alongside Gérard in water polo at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics, winning silver medals both times. Maurice later became an international referee, conducting the Olympic final in 1932, and was a member of the Belgian Olympic Committee and swimming federation. In 1948, Maurice Blitz founded the swimming and waterpolo club Zwemclub Scaldis in Antwerp.

Maurice Blitz’s son, also Gérard Blitz, never competed at the Olympics, but became known during World War II as a resistance fighter with the French Resistance. After the war, Gérard Blitz became famous when he founded a vacation resort named Club Méditerranée, opening the first resort on Majorca, which later became franchised with the name shortened to Club Med. Gérard Blitz, the younger, also studied yoga, and became secretary and then president of the European Union of Yoga from 1974 until his death in 1990.