Tokyo Olympics: Canadian soccer player Quinn will become first transgender athlete to win medal

Quinn, who came out as non-binary and transgender in 2020, will look to help Canada beat the Swedes in the gold-medal match on Friday

Laurel Hubbard, a female transgender weightlifter, previously competed in the +87kg category but failed to record a lift

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Quinn helping take Canada into the gold-medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: AP

Published: 7:09pm, 5 Aug 2021Updated: 1:34pm, 9 Aug 2021

Canadian soccer player Quinn became 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 and will now become the first to win a medal.

Canada take on Sweden in the gold-medal match on Friday in Yokohama in the evening. The Canadians famously dumped the favourites – Team USA – out of the tournament in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win thanks to a penalty by midfielder Jessie Fleming.

Quinn, who came out as non-binary and transgender in 2020, slots in at midfield and played 72 minutes against Japan in their 1-1 draw in their first group match. Quinn then played 29 minutes against Chile in the team’s 2-1 win, and 67 minutes against Great Britain in another 1-1 draw.

Canada faced Brazil in the quarter-finals and Quinn played 63 minutes, registering a shot on goal as the Canadians won 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after both teams failed to score after extra time. In Canada’s game against the USA, Quinn registered 60 minutes.

Quinn posted a message on Instagram after the historic game against Japan.