Canadian national team footballer Quinn became the first openly transgender, non-binary athlete to win an Olympic medal this Friday, in another historic moment that will leave Tokyo-2020, after his team’s final against Sweden ( 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 in the match), in Yokohama. See the photo gallery here
Quinn, who has only one name, started as a starter and was subsequently substituted at the end of the first half.
A 25-year-old midfielder, Quinn has a long history with the Canadian women’s team, making her debut in 2014 and winning the bronze medal at Rio-2016, although she only came out transgender last year.
“I wanted to be authentic in all areas of my life, and one of them is public space,” Quinn said at the time.
“So that was one of the reasons behind it, because I was fed up with being abused and all that,” she added.
Transgender pioneer status at the Tokyo 2020 Games came alongside that of New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard.
Hubbard, which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes as such, has sparked controversy and debate. Because?
Critics argued that the New Zealander had physical benefits locked into her body from her developmental years as a man, which made it unfair for her to participate in the tournament’s women’s draw against born weightlifters.
However, Hubbard’s Games debut ultimately made no sporting noise as he failed to complete the lift and was out of action for metals.
Hubbard, 43, who was twice the age of some of her rivals and had not competed in international competitions since before the coronavirus pandemic, later admitted she was “outdated” to be under the the limelight.
This is not the case for Quinn, who evolves as a defensive midfielder and ranks at club level alongside big female stars like American Megan Rapinoe.
Today is a historic day. Quinn will be the first non-binary trans person to win an Olympic medal. I am very excited. It can be gold or silver, but he has already won and with that also a lot of non-binary bandit who can feel represented and more ??
At 7 am it’s the final
?? AP pic.twitter.com/3Gf8F6Vzxp– Georgina G. Alvarez (@ginxglez) August 6, 2021
– “The fight is not over” –
Quinn, who plays for Seattle’s OL Reign of the United States National Women’s League, was also not asked about her presence on the Canadian women’s team.
“I want my story told because when we have a lot of trans visibility, that’s where we start to make a move and we start moving up in society,” Quinn said on her club’s website.
Like Hubbard, Quinn spoke about the challenges of being transgender in a binary-centric world and faces the challenge of being a role model at the Games for young people in similar personal situations.
“I’m getting messages from kids saying they’ve never seen a transgender person in sport before,” Quinn told CBC after Canada shocked US super favorites 1-0, who ultimately won the medal bronze.
“Sport is the most exciting part of my life. If I can allow children to play the sports they love, that’s my fight and that’s why I’m here,” he confesses.
After arriving in Tokyo, Quinn reflected on what it meant to appear on the biggest sports scene as an openly transgender athlete.
“I don’t know how to feel. I am proud to see ‘Quinn’ on the list and on my accreditation. But it saddens me to know that there were Olympic athletes before me unable to live his truth in the world. “Quinn said. on social social networks.
Even if the fight continues. “There are transgender girls who are prohibited from playing sports, transgender women who face discrimination and prejudice while trying to pursue their Olympic dreams,” she explained.
“The fight is not over. I’m going to celebrate when everyone is there,” Quinn concluded.
(END) AFP / JSO
Posted: 06/08/2021
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