Tokyo 2020: Canadian football player Quinn becomes first openly trans athlete to compete in Olympics

Quinn, who came out as non-binary and transgender in 2000, posted on Instagram about the historic game against Japan

‘First openly trans Olympian to compete,’ they wrote. ‘I don’t know how to feel. I feel proud seeing ‘Quinn’ up on the line-up and on my accreditation’.

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Canada’s Quinn, the first trans athlete to compete in the Olympics, vies for the ball with Japan’s Yuzuho Shiokoshi during their football game. Photo: Kim Hong-Ji

Published: 5:15pm, 23 Jul 2021Updated: 5:15pm, 23 Jul 2021

Canadian soccer player Quinn has become the first openly trans athlete to compete in an Olympics by starting against host nation Japan in the squad’s first group game at Tokyo 2020.

Quinn, who came out as non-binary and transgender in 2000 and won an Olympics bronze medal in 2016, clocked in 72 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Japan. After the game Quinn, who primarily plays midfield and also defence, posted on Instagram about the match. Quinn also plays professionally for the OL Reign, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League based out of Tacoma, Washington, and is teammate of American star Megan Rapinoe.

“First openly trans Olympian to compete,” Quinn wrote. “I don’t know how to feel. I feel proud seeing ‘Quinn’ up on the line-up and on my accreditation. I feel sad knowing there were Olympians before me unable to live their truth because of the world. I feel optimistic for change. Change in legislature. Changes in rules, structures, and mindsets.”

On Saturday, Canada will play Chile while Japan will face Great Britain. The Americans, who are heavily favoured to win the gold, lost their first group game against Sweden in a shock result.

Canada’s Quinn heads the ball during the women's group E first round match against Japan at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo. Photo: AFP

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is scheduled to compete in the women’s 87kg+ weight class, will become the first transgender woman to compete in the Olympics. Transgender American freestyle BMX alternative Chelsea Wolfe will be travelling with the US team to Tokyo but is not expected to compete.