Ireen Wust of Netherlands competes in the 1500m Ladies race during Day 4 of the ISU World Speed Skating Championships at Thialf Arena on February 14, 2021 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
Research recently conducted by OnlineGambling.ca finds that almost 230 LGBTQIA+ athletes have competed at the Summer and Winter Olympics from 1928-2016.
All eyes are now fixed on Tokyo, where a new record for participation has been set, with almost 170 out LGBTQIA+ athletes competing.
The LGBTQIA+ community is no doubt following the progress of trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who has made history as the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Summer Games.
Record Number of LGBTQIA+ Athletes at the Olympics
Numbers have been steadily rising since Renée Sintenis and Otto Peltzer became the first known members of the LGBTQIA+ community to take part in the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928, with 230 athletes having competed at the Winter and Summer Games to date.
While Sintenis took Bronze in the now-defunct Sculpture event – making her the first LGBTQIA+ medallist – fellow German and middle-distance runner Peltzer was imprisoned by the Nazis because of his homosexuality in the 1940s.
This year's "diversity" Olympics will see triple the number of out LGBTQ+ athletes compared to the games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, which saw 75 LGBTQIA+ athletes compete.
Record Number of LGBTQIA+ Athletes at the OlympicsPhoto courtesy of OnlineGambling.Ca
Number of Olympic Medals Won by LGBTQIA+ Athletes
Debuting at the Olympics at the tender age of 14, Tom Daley is the most recent athlete to win a gold medal. The 27-year-old British diver finally got his hands on the gold at his fourth game in the synchronised diving with partner Lee Pip earlier this week.
Outsports, the news site focusing on LGBTQ athletes, is currently tracking medal wins for what they have called "Team LGBTQ" and so far one gold, four silver and three bronze medals have already been won by athletes from the community.
These medals – added onto the previous 93 gold, 75 silver and 61 bronze medals from 1928 to 2016 – bringing the total to 94 golds, 79 silver and 64 bronze medals won by LGBTQIA+ athletes so far.
Top Countries with the Most LGBTQIA+ Olympic Athletes
When it comes to the nation with the most LGBTQIA+ athletes to have competed at the Olympic Games, the USA is out in front with 47 and counting. Neighbouring Canada is second with 33.
The top European country is the Netherlands in third place with 20 athletes. Germany is in fourth with 18.
The promised new bill against LGBTQIA+ discrimination was dropped by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's ruling party despite Japan getting ready to host what is meant to be a "diversity" Olympics.
Historically there have been no athletes representing Japan from the LGBTQIA+ community and this year proves to be no different.
The Top 5 most successful LGBTQIA+ athletes at the Olympics
Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst has the most medals with five Gold, five Silver and a Bronze across the last four Winter Games. She is the most successful LGBTQIA+ Olympian of all time.
Australian freestyle and medley swimmer Ian Thorpe comes second with five Gold, three Silver and a Bronze in the pool.
Artistic gymnast Karin Büttner-Janz – who represented the old East Germany in 1968 and 1972 – got seven Olympic medals: two Gold, three Silver and two Bronze.
The Top 5 Most Successful LGBTQIA+ Athletes at the OlympicsPhoto courtesy of OnlineGambling.Ca
The best lifestyle YouTubers I follow that you've never heard of
There are so many YouTubers out there that gain little to no exposure for their amazing content. Here are some of my favorites that deserve more shine.
If I'm not engrossed in a collection of poetry, fiction novels, or taking a walk through my neighborhood, one of my favorite pastimes is to log onto YouTube to watch some beauty, music, and the occasional celebrity gossip content. Even though I enjoy all of these particular categories, lately, lifestyle vlogs have been piquing my interest. The thing about lifestyle vlogs is that there are no general themes or bounds to the content produced.
Usually, I find that they tend to create a day in the life, advice, or candid conversations about what is on their mind. It's almost identical to being right beside them, hearing them recount their stories.
Many of us know that YouTube is densely populated with notable influencers such as Patricia Bright and Jackie Aina to name a couple. Yet, the popularity of these YouTubers propelled further up in the top ranks of the algorithm, causing other YouTubers with great content and a small following to gain little to no exposure for creating something genuine and relatable to everyday life.
Without further adieu, below is a brief list of lifestyle YouTubers that deserve more shine.
Nagad Halane
work day in the life of a young black candle maker www.youtube.com
If you want a taste of the wholesome things in life, she's the person for you. The Canadian vlogger chronicles her life with montages of the off-the-grid home she shares with her boyfriend, her life as the owner of an intention candle Etsy store, her experiences growing up in a Somali home,and the complications that arose from her desire to leave Islam. She also has a book titled Who You Are, the journey to remembering, an inspirational guide to understand your soul in your own personal journey, and a podcast called A Spoonful of Consciousness. She discusses birth charts, astrology, and self-worth.
Paige Nelson (a.k.a. Love Your Natural)
Girl Talk : What We All Can GAIN from Self - QUARANTINE | (( MUST WATCH)) www.youtube.com
As soon as you click on a video, you automatically get the sense that you're talking with a close friend or sister ( she addresses her subscribers as "best friends"). Paige discusses everything from inexpensive makeup, fashion, and self-care hacks to relevant and relatable dating advice when navigating today's social climate. Even though she has accrued over 800,000 subscribers to her channel, most are still unfamiliar with her. Fun fact: she is also a talented rapper that goes by the stage name Bella Barz.
How To Get Your Confidence Back!! & Boost Your Self Esteem Sis ! | ((Highly Requested)) | www.youtube.com
Mary Jane Byarm
What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Traveling SOLO www.youtube.com
Mary Jane is probably one of the most interesting people that I've ever stumbled across on YouTube. The New Jersey native set a goal to travel all over the world and succeeded. She's traveled to over 100 countries, beautifully documenting the culture, food, best landmarks to visit, and stories about some of her wildest experiences traveling the globe. Ultimately, her travel vlogs allow you to live vicariously through her with her captivating cinematography.
After Visiting 100 Countries.. These are the Ones I DIDNT like www.youtube.com
Kelly Stamps
the truth about being a youtuber. www.youtube.com
Kelly Stamps is a witty 20-something-year-old who discusses minimalism, fashion, finances, and experiences as a YouTuber ( her following has grown to over 300,00 subscribers). She also doesn't skip a beat discussing the riveting hot mess of dating and dealing with unruly people we all have experienced at least once.
frugal living in NYC (with expensive energy) www.youtube.com
Who are some of your favorite YouTubers that deserve more recognition?