Canadian soccer player Quinn made history after becoming the first openly transgender person to compete at the Olympic Games. “Feel broud but the fight isn’t close to over,” Quinn said.
Quinn, a midfielder for the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team and Tacoma-based club OL Reign, took to social media to share their feelings.
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“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,” Quinn said.
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“I feel optimistic for change. Change in the legislature. Changes in rules, structures, and mindsets. Mostly, I feel aware of the realities. Trans girls are 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,” they added.
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Quinn came out as trans in September 2020 and uses the non-binary pronouns they/them. They had also competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Canada’s opening match against Japan ended in a 1-1 draw following goals from Christine Sinclair and Mana Iwabuchi. The 25-year-old is one of two openly transgender players in the NWSL. The other one is Washington Spirit’s Kumi Yokoyama, who came out in June.
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Yokoyama said that Quinn wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” sweatshirt before a game which had encouraged them to come out.
“[Quinn] wore a [sweatshirt] that said ‘Protect Trans Kids’ before a game, and I realised that it was what taking action looks like. To be able to accept people you have no relationship with, that’s the kind of person I would like to become and I hope we can create that society,” Yokoyama said, as per ESPN reports.
