Meet The Record Number Of Out Athletes Who Competed At The 2025 World Athletic Championships
From Olympic champions to first-time qualifiers, this year’s roster marked a milestone for queer visibility in athletics.
Featured image: Yulimar Rojas of Team Venezuela, photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo have broken records in more ways than one. With more than 2,000 athletes from 198 countries, it is the biggest track and field meet outside the Olympics. And this year, a record 13 out LGBTQ+ athletes competed on the world stage.
It’s a milestone for queer visibility at the highest level of athletics. From sprinters to race walkers, here’s a look at who they are.
Ana Carolina Azevedo (Brazil – 100m)
Brazil’s national 100m champion competed at the event for the first time this year. Off the track, Ana shares her life with Olympic boxing star Bia Ferreira, to whom she is engaged. She placed fifth in her heat in Tokyo, just missing a spot in the semis, but we have no doubt she’ll be back for more.
Roberta Bruni (Italy – Pole Vault)
Italy’s pole vault record holder returned to the big stage and qualified for the final in Tokyo, where she finished in 11th place. Roberta is open about her relationship with her girlfriend, Virginia.
Izabela da Silva (Brazil – Discus)
Two-time Olympian and Pan Am medalist Izabela da Silva is Brazil’s discus leader and one of the few openly lesbian elite throwers. She finished ninth in Tokyo’s final, building on a strong season that included a personal best.
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Canada – 1,500m & 5,000m)
Gabriela is both a record-breaking Canadian runner and a proud bisexual athlete. In Tokyo’s Olympics four years ago, she famously dyed her hair rainbow to send a message. “I wanted to have a visual marker of representation,” she explained. Injury setbacks have tested her since, but she continues to lead as an advocate.
Nikki Hiltz (USA – 1,500m)
Few athletes embody visibility like Nikki Hiltz, who came out as transgender and non-binary in 2021. Nikki has since been open about the importance of gender-affirming care. In Tokyo, they reached the 1,500m final.
Tiffani Marinho (Brazil – 400m)
Engaged to soccer player Sissi Ribeiro, Tiffani Marinho represents Brazil in the 400m with pride. A two-time Olympian and South American champion, she raced in the heats in Tokyo. Though she did not progress, her presence in the sport continues to make an impact.
María Pérez (Spain – 20km & 35km Race Walk)
Spain’s race walk sensation, María Pérez, is already a legend in her event. She’s the reigning world champion and record holder, and in Tokyo she added another gold in the 35km. María has been open about her sexuality and has stood tall in Pride celebrations.
Sha’Carri Richardson (USA – 100m)
Known as much for her charisma as her speed, Sha’Carri is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. She came out publicly as bisexual in 2015 and has spoken openly about relationships with women. In Tokyo, she finished fifth in the 100m final.
Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela – Triple Jump)
Yulimar Rojas is widely regarded as the greatest triple jumper of all time, an Olympic and world champion with records to prove it. She is also proudly lesbian, publicly advocating for queer visibility on and off the field.
Senni Salminen (Finland – Triple Jump)
Senni Salminen, Finland’s national record holder, uses her platform for more than sport. “This is a fantastic opportunity to speak out about human rights in sport,” she has said. In Tokyo, she missed the final, but her advocacy and openness remain powerful. She continues to challenge stereotypes that LGBTQ athletes face, insisting that visibility matters even without medals.
Ramsey Angela (Netherlands – 4x400m Relay)
Dutch sprinter Ramsey Angela has never staged a formal coming out, but he regularly posted photos with his boyfriend during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He returns to Tokyo now with a World silver already on his resume.
Seamus Derbyshire (Great Britain – 400m Hurdles)
Seamus Derbyshire has become a fan favorite for his flamboyant start-line routines — tossing his hair, blowing kisses, and flashing hearts to the camera. Beyond the flair, he is a serious competitor, now the fifth-fastest Brit ever in the hurdles. Seamus may not have advanced past the heats, but his freedom to shine is its own kind of victory.
Nico Young (USA – 5,000m & 10,000m)
Nico Young came out in 2022 with honesty: “This may come as a shock… but this is something I have always known. I like guys, not girls.” Now one of America’s brightest distance talents, he placed fifth in Tokyo’s 5,000m final after a grueling double that included the 10,000m. Still only in his early 20s, Nico is not only chasing medals but also changing what it means to be an out gay man in distance running.
Some left Tokyo with medals, others with only experience, but together these 13 LGBTQ athletes added a new line to the history of the World Championships.
